Remote Memory Research Articles

Muscarinic (M1 ) cholinergic receptor activation within the dorsal hippocampus promotes destabilization of strongly encoded object location memories.

Following the initial consolidation process, memories can become reactivated by exposure to a reminder of the original learning event. This can lead to the memory becoming destabilized and vulnerable to disruption or other forms of modification. The memory must then undergo the protein-synthesis dependent process of reconsolidation in order to be retained. However, older and/or stronger memories resist destabilization, but can become labile when reactivated in the presence of salient novelty. We have implicated the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, acting at M1 muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChRs) within perirhinal cortex (PRh), in novelty-induced destabilization of remote object memories. It remains unclear, however, whether mAChRs are involved in destabilization of other forms of memory. We hypothesized that the role of M1 mAChRs previously demonstrated for PRh-dependent object memory would extend to hippocampus-dependent spatial memory. Using the object location (OL) task, which relies on the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC), we showed that (a) reactivation-dependent reconsolidation of OL memories requires protein synthesis within the dHPC; (b) destabilization of relatively weak OL memories depends on M1 mAChR activation within the dHPC; (c) salient novelty during reactivation promotes destabilization of resistant strongly encoded OL memories; (d) novelty-induced destabilization of strong OL memories requires activation of mAChRs within the dHPC; and (e) M1 mAChR activation within the dHPC in the absence of novelty during memory reactivation mimics the effect of novelty, destabilizing strongly encoded OL memories. These results implicate ACh acting at M1 mAChRs in the destabilization of dHPC-dependent spatial memories, demonstrating generalizability of this cholinergic function beyond memory for object identity. These findings therefore enhance our understanding of the dynamics of long-term memory storage and suggest implications for the treatment of human conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and aging, which are characterized by behavioral and mnemonic inflexibility.

Distinct Contribution of Granular and Agranular Subdivisions of the Retrosplenial Cortex to Remote Contextual Fear Memory Retrieval.

The retrieval of recent and remote memories are thought to rely on distinct brain circuits and mechanisms. The retrosplenial cortex (RSC) is robustly activated during the retrieval of remotely acquired contextual fear memories (CFMs), but the contribution of particular subdivisions [granular (RSG) vs agranular retrosplenial area (RSA)] and the circuit mechanisms through which they interact to retrieve remote memories remain unexplored. In this study, using both anterograde and retrograde viral tracing approaches, we identified excitatory projections from layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the RSG to the CA1 stratum radiatum/lacunosum-moleculare of the dorsal hippocampus and the superficial layers of the RSA in male mice. We found that chemogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of the RSG-to-CA1, but not the RSG-to-RSA, pathway selectively impairs the retrieval of remote CFMs. Collectively, our results uncover a specific role for the RSG in remote CFM recall and provide circuit evidence that RSG-mediated remote CFM retrieval relies on direct RSG-to-CA1 connectivity. The present study provides a better understanding of brain circuit mechanisms underlying the retrieval of remote CFMs and may help guide the development of therapeutic strategies to attenuate remote traumatic memories that lead to mental health issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The RSC is implicated in contextual information processing and remote recall. However, how different subdivisions of the RSC and circuit mechanisms through which they interact to underlie remote memory recall remain unexplored. This study shows that granular subdivision of the RSC and its input to hippocampal area CA1 contributes to the retrieval of remote contextual fear memories. Our results support the hypothesis that the RSC and hippocampus require each other to preserve fear memories and may provide a novel therapeutic avenue to attenuate remote traumatic memories in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Redy

Redy is a cloud service that provides high performance caches using RDMA-accessible remote memory. An application can customize the performance of each cache with a service level objective (SLO) for latency and throughput. By using remote memory, it can leverage stranded memory and spot VM instances to reduce the cost of its caches and improve data center resource utilization. Redy automatically customizes the resource configuration for the given SLO, handles the dynamics of remote memory regions, and recovers from failures. The experimental evaluation shows that Redy can deliver its promised performance and robustness under remote memory dynamics in the cloud. We augment a production key-value store, FASTER, with a Redy cache. When the working set exceeds local memory, using Redy is significantly faster than spilling to SSDs.

Characterising spoken interactions of healthy ageing adults with CognoSpeak, a web‐based cognitive assessment tool

AbstractBackgroundAutomatic conversation analysis presents a useful aid for diagnosis and management of people with cognitive impairments, having already successfully differentiated between people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and healthy controls. Current clinical brief cognitive tests such as Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination are influenced by age, education and practice effects but it is unknown how these factors influence automated analysis of speech. This study characterised the effects of age, education and repetition on measures of speech and language of cognitively healthy ageing adults.MethodAudio recordings of memory related questions and verbal fluency tasks from 37 cognitively healthy adults’ conversations with CognoSpeak were analysed (mean age 73.11 ± 7.97). Linguistic analysis comprised of pause to speech ratio (pause length/speech length), age of acquisition of words, phonemes per minute, words per minute and total word count. Spearman’s correlations assessed relationships with age and education. 6 participants repeated testing at an average of 4.05 and 12.25 months later. Friedman’s ANOVA and post‐hoc related‐samples Wilcoxon signed ranks tests assessed longitudinal changes.ResultPause to speech ratio was significantly higher for recent memory questions than remote memory. Age of acquisition was significantly higher for phonemic fluency than semantic fluency. A moderate negative correlation was found for age with ACE‐R score and phonemic fluency. A strong positive correlation was found with education and ACE‐R score, and a moderate positive correlation with education and words per minute. No further relationships for age or education were found. Semantic fluency showed practice effects, whereas linguistic measures did not. Further follow‐up data will be available by July 2021.ConclusionThese results support the theory of semantic memory preservation with age. It is indicated that age, education and time do not have large effects on linguistic measures, giving conversation analysis a practical advantage over the ACE‐R for longitudinal monitoring of people with Mild Cognitive Impairment or Subjective Cognitive Impairment.

Patient experience and satisfaction with remote memory assessment: Responding to clinical need in times of COVID-19 restrictions.

BackgroundThe suspension of memory services during the COVID‐19 pandemic delayed dementia diagnosis and access to early intervention. Some services responded to the challenge by developing a remote memory assessment pathway to comply with reduced social contact measures to protect vulnerable patients. The aim of the study was to establish whether remote model is considered a satisfactory experience within the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic and to understand the factors associated with patient and carer satisfaction of remote pathway.Method73 participants recruited from patients referred to memory clinic in West Sussex, who were assessed over a video or telephone. Participants completed an 11‐item questionnaire capturing satisfaction across a range of elements, contextual items (the impact of the pandemic, loneliness, previous experience of using teleconference technology and diagnosis), as well as 3 dimensions from Patient Experience Questionnaire. Descriptive statistics are reported at a whole sample level, separated by patient and carer status. A hypothesis driven set of bivariate analyses (Spearman’s rank) was used to understand the association between overall satisfaction and key independent factors across the whole sample.Results73 participants were typically older adults (M=68.5, SD=13.3) and female (n=40, 54.8%). The patient was more likely to be older, feel lonely within the past week and to have used video call software when compared to the carer (p> 0.05). Participants were generally satisfied with the remote pathway with 95.8% (n=69) agreeing or strongly agreeing with the statement “Overall, I was satisfied with the assessment”. Patients and carers did not significantly differ on any satisfaction response, apart from the ease of use of technology, in which carers were more likely to find the technology easy to use (U= 432.5; p=0.01). Worry about contracting COVID and communication experience was positively associated with overall satisfaction, whilst perceived communication barriers were significantly negatively associated with overall satisfaction.ConclusionsRemote memory assessment was a positive and satisfactory experience for most patient and carers. The remote pathway should be considered as an option available during and beyond the pandemic to improve access and patient choice of assessment modality.

What happens to the worried well? Follow‐up of subjective cognitive impairment

AbstractBackgroundPerceived neurocognitive decline is becoming a more common concern, leading to an increased number of referrals to specialists for further investigation and increased stress and anxiety for patients. Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI) refers to the condition of having concerns about one’s memory but performing within the expected range on neurocognitive tests. People with SCI can also be referred to as the “worried well”. We aimed to explore how likely the “worried well” are to experience neurocognitive decline and develop a neurologic diagnosis.Method166 consecutive “worried well” patients who attended the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic (RRMC) in Saskatchewan, Canada between 2004 and 2019 were included. Demographic, health, social, and behavioural factors were recorded at the initial visit. Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD) score, and Functional Assessment Questionnaire (FAQ) scores were measured and compared at initial assessment and at 1‐year follow‐up. MMSE scores overtime were assessed with a mean follow‐up of 2.95 years (SD 2.87). Case summaries were used to build the profile of 9 cases, which have been followed longer than one year and developed a neurologic diagnosis.ResultThere was no statistically significant difference in MMSE, CESD, or FAQ scores between clinic day and one‐year follow‐up, and no consistent pattern of MMSE score over time. Of the 166 patients with SCI on initial assessment, 5 were later diagnosed with AD at 8.5, 3.5, 5, 3, and 1.75 years; 2 were diagnosed with MCI at 1 and 2 years; 1 was diagnosed with vascular cognitive impairment at 5 years; and 1 was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at 0.5 years.ConclusionThere is no pattern of neurologic decline observed in the “worried well”. Though the likelihood of a patient with SCI developing a neurological diagnosis is reassuringly low, (9/166), it is not irrelevant. The chance of an underlying neurological problem and subsequent neurologic diagnosis, along with the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment for dementia, leads us to believe that patients with SCI should still be seen in follow‐up at least at the one‐year mark.

Patient attitudes towards remote memory clinic assessment.

Due to demand on UK memory clinic services, most patients have limited consultant interaction before diagnosis/discharge. Technology offers an opportunity for remote assessment, from telephone/video-based consultations to fully digitised cognitive assessments with potential to track disease progression. Whilst many acute services utilise remote assessment, there are perceived barriers in memory clinic populations. However, COVID-19 and related national restrictions may have altered patients' attitudes towards and experience with remote assessment tools. We aimed to investigate attitudes including confidence and perceived challenges towards remote assessment as well as access and experience with technology amongst Oxfordshire memory clinic patients. Between June and September 2020, all patients awaiting initial memory clinic assessment were asked to participate in a standardised semi-quantitative survey as part of an Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust service evaluation. Designed with service-user input, questions aimed to capture availability, experience and confidence using technology and patients' comfort with assessment, diagnosis and future care discussions being conducted remotely, as well as any concerns or comments. Amongst 73 respondents (average age=79.1 years), access to technology was high; 82% reported telephone access and 58% to a laptop, tablet, smartphone or combination of the three. 17% reported previous use of web-based video conferencing tools, and although confidence using these tools was 7%, this increased with written instruction or relative assistance. Similarly, whilst under half of the respondents felt comfortable with assessments, diagnosis or future care discussions occurring remotely, this increased to approximately two thirds with relative presence (67%, 69% and 66%, respectively). Qualitative analysis of patient's comments regarding remote assessment also revealed concerns over wait times/urgent need for assessment. However, 62% preferred to wait for an in-person visit, rather than an immediate remote appointment. This survey demonstrates availability of technology in this population but a disparity in willingness to engage in remote assessment. Consequently, there is a need to diverge from one-size-fits-all models to a tiered approach that helps facilitate individual choice based on the availability/confidence with technology and level of relative support. The Oxford Brain Health Centre, an integrated clinical-research service, provides an opportunity to research this tiered approach in clinical practice.

Coupling of a quantum memory and telecommunication wavelength photons for high-rate entanglement distribution in quantum repeaters

Quantum repeaters are indispensable tools for long-distance quantum communication. However, frequency matching between entangled photon sources and remote quantum memories (QMs) is difficult, which is an obstacle to the implementation of quantum repeaters. In this paper, we demonstrate a method to achieve the coupling of a Pr:YSO as a fixed-time QM with a single telecommunication-wavelength photon through frequency stabilization using an optical frequency comb over all applied laser wavelengths. The demonstrated method can lead to the implementation of a quantum repeater scheme enabling an improvement of the entanglement generation rate, paving the way for long-distance quantum communication.

The Role of PDE11A4 in Social Isolation-Induced Changes in Intracellular Signaling and Neuroinflammation.

Phosphodiesterase 11A (PDE11A), an enzyme that degrades cyclic nucleotides (cAMP and cGMP), is the only PDE whose mRNA expression in brain is restricted to the hippocampal formation. Previously, we showed that chronic social isolation changes subsequent social behaviors in adult mice by reducing expression of PDE11A4 in the membrane fraction of the ventral hippocampus (VHIPP). Here we seek extend these findings by determining 1) if isolation-induced decreases in PDE11A4 require chronic social isolation or if they occur acutely and are sustained long-term, 2) if isolation-induced decreases occur uniquely in adults (i.e., not adolescents), and 3) how the loss of PDE11 signaling may increase neuroinflammation. Both acute and chronic social isolation decrease PDE11A4 expression in adult but not adolescent mice. This decrease in PDE11A4 is specific to the membrane compartment of the VHIPP, as it occurs neither in the soluble nor nuclear fractions of the VHIPP nor in any compartment of the dorsal HIPP. The effect of social isolation on membrane PDE11A4 is also selective in that PDE2A and PDE10A expression remain unchanged. Isolation-induced decreases in PDE11A4 expression appear to be functional as social isolation elicited changes in PDE11A-relevant signal transduction cascades (i.e., decreased pCamKIIα and pS6-235/236) and behavior (i.e., increased remote long-term memory for social odor recognition). Interestingly, we found that isolation-induced decreases in membrane PDE11A4 correlated with increased expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the soluble fraction, suggesting pro-inflammatory signaling for this cytokine. This effect on IL-6 is consistent with the fact that PDE11A deletion increased microglia activation, although it left astrocytes unchanged. Together, these data suggest that isolation-induced decreases in PDE11A4 may alter subsequent social behavior via increased neuroinflammatory processes in adult mice.

Evaluation of HPC Acceleration and Interconnect Technologies for High-Throughput Data Acquisition.

Efficient data movement in multi-node systems is a crucial issue at the crossroads of scientific computing, big data, and high-performance computing, impacting demanding data acquisition applications from high-energy physics to astronomy, where dedicated accelerators such as FPGA devices play a key role coupled with high-performance interconnect technologies. Building on the outcome of the RECIPE Horizon 2020 research project, this work evaluates the use of high-bandwidth interconnect standards, namely InfiniBand EDR and HDR, along with remote direct memory access functions for direct exposure of FPGA accelerator memory across a multi-node system. The prototype we present aims at avoiding dedicated network interfaces built in the FPGA accelerator itself, leaving most of the resources for user acceleration and supporting state-of-the-art interconnect technologies. We present the detail of the proposed system and a quantitative evaluation in terms of end-to-end bandwidth as concretely measured with a real-world FPGA-based multi-node HPC workload.

P.015 What Happens to the Worried Well? – Follow-up of Subjective Cognitive Impairment

Background: Concern around perceived neurocognitive decline is increasing, leading to increased number of referrals and anxiety for patients. We aimed to explore the likelihood of the “worried well” experiencing neurocognitive decline. Methods: 166 “worried well” patients who attended the Rural and Remote Memory Clinic between 2004 and 2019 were included. Mini Mental Status Examination, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and Functional Assessment Questionnaire scores were measured and compared at initial assessment and at 1-year follow-up. MMSE scores over time were assessed with a mean follow-up of 2.95 years (SD 2.87). Results: There was no statistically significant difference in MMSE, CESD, or FAQ scores between clinic day and one-year follow-up, and no consistent pattern of MMSE score over time. Of the 166 patients with SCI on initial assessment, nine were eventually given a neurological diagnosis. Conclusions: There is no pattern of neurologic decline observed in the “worried well”. Though the likelihood of a patient with SCI developing a neurological diagnosis is reassuringly low, (9/166), it is not irrelevant. This, along with the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment for dementia, leads us to believe that patients with SCI should still be seen in follow-up at least at the one-year mark.

PET Metabolic Imaging of Time-Dependent Reorganization of Olfactory Cued Fear Memory Networks in Rats.

Memory consolidation involves reorganization at both the synaptic and system levels. The latter involves gradual reorganization of the brain regions that support memory and has been mostly highlighted using hippocampal-dependent tasks. The standard memory consolidation model posits that the hippocampus becomes gradually less important over time in favor of neocortical regions. In contrast, this reorganization of circuits in amygdala-dependent tasks has been less investigated. Moreover, this question has been addressed using primarily lesion or cellular imaging approaches thus precluding the comparison of recent and remote memory networks in the same animals. To overcome this limitation, we used microPET imaging to characterize, in the same animals, the networks activated during the recall of a recent versus remote memory in an olfactory cued fear conditioning paradigm. The data highlighted the drastic difference between the extents of the two networks. Indeed, although the recall of a recent odor fear memory activates a large network of structures spanning from the prefrontal cortex to the cerebellum, significant activations during remote memory retrieval are limited to the piriform cortex. These results strongly support the view that amygdala-dependent memories also undergo system-level reorganization, and that sensory cortical areas might participate in the long-term storage of emotional memories.

Dissociated Role of Thalamic and Cortical Input to the Lateral Amygdala for Consolidation of Long-Term Fear Memory.

Post-encoding coordinated reactivation of memory traces distributed throughout interconnected brain regions is thought to be critical for consolidation of memories. However, little is known about the role of neural circuit pathways during post-learning periods for consolidation of memories. To investigate this question, we optogenetically silenced the inputs from both auditory cortex and thalamus in the lateral amygdala (LA) for 15 min immediately following auditory fear conditioning (FC) and examined its effect on fear memory formation in mice of both sexes. Optogenetic inhibition of both inputs disrupted long-term fear memory formation tested 24 h after FC. This effect was specific such that the same inhibition did not affect short-term memory and context-dependent memory. Moreover, long-term memory was intact if the inputs were inhibited at much later time points after FC (3 h or 1 d after FC), indicating that optical inhibition for 15 min itself does not produce any nonspecific deleterious effect on fear memory retrieval. Selective inhibition of thalamic input was sufficient to impair consolidation of auditory fear memory. In contrast, selective inhibition of cortical input disrupted remote fear memory without affecting recent memory. These results reveal a dissociated role of thalamic and cortical input to the LA during early post-learning periods for consolidation of long-term fear memory.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Coordinated communications between brain regions are thought to be essential during post-learning periods for consolidation of memories. However, the role of specific neural circuit pathways in this process has been scarcely explored. Using a precise optogenetic inhibition of auditory input pathways, either thalamic or cortical or both, to the LA during post-training periods, we here show that thalamic input is required for consolidation of both recent and remote fear memory, whereas cortical input is crucial for consolidation of remote fear memory. These results reveal a dissociated role of auditory input pathways to the LA for consolidation of long-term fear memory.

Developmental emergence of persistent memory for contextual and auditory fear in mice.

The ability to generate memories that persist throughout a lifetime (that is, memory persistence) emerges in early development across species. Although it has been shown that persistent fear memories emerge between late infancy and adolescence in mice, it is unclear exactly when this transition takes place, and whether two major fear conditioning tasks, contextual and auditory fear, share the same time line of developmental onset. Here, we compared the ontogeny of remote contextual and auditory fear in C57BL/6J mice across early life. Mice at postnatal day (P)15, 21, 25, 28, and 30 underwent either contextual or auditory fear training and were tested for fear retrieval 1 or 30 d later. We found that mice displayed 30-d memory for context- and tone-fear starting at P25. We did not find sex differences in the ontogeny of either type of fear memory. Furthermore, 30-d contextual fear retrieval led to an increase in the number of c-Fos positive cells in the prelimbic region of the prefrontal cortex only at an age in which the contextual fear memory was successfully retrieved. These data delineate a precise time line for the emergence of persistent contextual and auditory fear memories in mice and suggest that the prelimbic cortex is only recruited for remote memory recall upon the onset of memory persistence.

Hardening the Security of Multi-Access Edge Computing through Bio-Inspired VM Introspection

The extreme bandwidth and performance of 5G mobile networks changes the way we develop and utilize digital services. Within a few years, 5G will not only touch technology and applications, but dramatically change the economy, our society and individual life. One of the emerging technologies that enables the evolution to 5G by bringing cloud capabilities near to the end users is Edge Computing or also known as Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) that will become pertinent towards the evolution of 5G. This evolution also entails growth in the threat landscape and increase privacy in concerns at different application areas, hence security and privacy plays a central role in the evolution towards 5G. Since MEC application instantiated in the virtualized infrastructure, in this paper we present a distributed application that aims to constantly introspect multiple virtual machines (VMs) in order to detect malicious activities based on their anomalous behavior. Once suspicious processes detected, our IDS in real-time notifies system administrator about the potential threat. Developed software is able to detect keyloggers, rootkits, trojans, process hiding and other intrusion artifacts via agent-less operation, by operating remotely or directly from the host machine. Remote memory introspection means no software to install, no notice to malware to evacuate or destroy data. Experimental results of remote VMI on more than 50 different malicious code demonstrate average anomaly detection rate close to 97%. We have established wide testbed environment connecting networks of two universities Kyushu Institute of Technology and The City College of New York through secure GRE tunnel. Conducted experiments on this testbed deliver high response time of the proposed system.

Betel Quid Dependence Effects on Working Memory and Remote Memory in Chewers with Concurrent Use of Cigarette and Alcohol

Rationale: Betel quid (BQ) is regarded as a human carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Although there are many BQ chewers across Asian-Pacific areas, studies addressing the effects of BQ chewing on memory remain rare. Objective The current study asked whether BQ dependence level could affect working memory (WM) and remote memory for the chewers with concurrent use of cigarettes and alcohol, a common phenomenon in Taiwan. Methods The standardized neuropsychological tests (Wechsler Memory Scale III (WMS-III) and Remote Memory Test) were adopted to address the BQ chewers’ verbal WM, spatial WM and remote memory. The Spatial Span Test and the Digit Span Test from WMS-III and the Remote Memory Test were adopted. The Betel Nut Dependency Scale (BNDS), the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were adopted to measure the dependence levels. Results The BQ dependence level and Last BQ did not affect spatial WM, verbal WM, and remote memory. Last Cigarette is critical in affecting WM; namely, longer interval led to worse performance. Finally, higher alcohol dependence level could lead to better remote memory. Conclusions To our knowledge, there are no BQ studies addressing the effects of concurrent use of cigarettes and alcohol on memory. The current results suggest that cigarette smoking and alcohol drinking, rather than BQ chewing, are critical for memory performance.

Long-lasting memory no longer means forever: Relationship between accelerated long-term forgetting and autobiographical memory disorders amongst patients with temporal lobe epilepsy

Patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) have difficulties when they are asked to recall remote autobiographical memory. Also, some patients with epilepsy show accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) over days or weeks for material demonstrated to have been retained when assessed after typical short-term delays. When remote autobiographical memory has been investigated in patients who show ALF, impairments have been detected in most cases, but the extent to which remote autobiographical memory impairments are explained by early consolidation deficits has not been clarified.

Quality of life compared in mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's, frontotemporal, Lewy body, and vascular dementia

Quality of life (QOL) is of great importance in dementia. We examined QOL across types of dementia in patients presenting to a rural and remote memory clinic (RRMC).

Feasibility of remote Memory Clinics using the plan, do, study, act (PDSA) cycle.

IntroductionA timely diagnosis of dementia is crucial for initiating and maintaining support for people living with dementia. The coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic temporarily halted Memory Clinics, where this is organised, and rate of dementia diagnosis has fallen. Despite increasing use of alternatives to face-to-face (F2F) consultations in other departments, it is unclear whether this is feasible within the traditional Memory Clinic model.AimsThe main aim of this service improvement project performed during the pandemic was to explore feasibility of telephone (TC) and videoconference (VC) Memory Clinic consultations.MethodsConsecutive patients on the Memory Clinic waiting list were telephoned and offered an initial appointment by VC or TC. Data extracted included: age, internet-enabled device ownership, reason for and choice of Memory Clinic assessment. We noted Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Blind (TC) and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination-III (VC via Attend Anywhere) scores, and feasibility of consultation.ResultsOut of 100 patients, 12 had a home assessment, moved away, been hospitalised, or died. 45, 21 and 6 preferred F2F, VC and TC assessments respectively. 16 were not contactable and offered a F2F appointment. The main reason for preferring F2F was non-ownership, or inability to use an internet-enabled device (80%). VC and TC preference reasons were unwillingness to come to hospital (59%), and convenience (41%). Attendance rate was 100% for VC and TC, but 77% for F2F. Feasibility (successful consultations) was seen in 90% (VC) and 67% (TC) patients.ConclusionFor able and willing patients, remote Memory Consultations can be both feasible and beneficial. This has implications for future planning in dementia services.

Do spatial and recognition memories have a lateralized processing by the dorsal hippocampus CA3?

The present study evaluated the function of the right and left CA3 of the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) in the processing of (i) recognition memory, (ii) recent and remote spatial memory, (iii) working memory and (iv) navigation strategy. Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: vehicle group (VG), animals received a bilateral injection of phosphate-saline buffer (PBS) in both right and left dorsal CA3; dHPC-R group, animals received an injection of ibotenic acid (IBO) in the right dorsal CA3; dHPC-L group, animals received an IBO injection in left dorsal CA3; and dHPC-Bi group, animals received bilateral injections of IBO in both dorsal CA3. Rats were submitted to a sequence of behavioral tests: Morris water maze (MWM), object recognition test (ORT), forced T-maze and MWM 30 days after the first exposure. The results showed no evidence of functional lateralization and the dorsal CA3 does not seem to be essential for learning and memory (recent and remote) processing and allocentric navigation analyzed in the MWM and T-maze, respectively. However, rats with right or bilateral lesions in the dorsal CA3 failed to recognize the familiar object in the ORT, suggesting a lateralized processing of recognition memory. That result is unprecedented and contributes to the knowledge about the compartmentalization of HPC functions.