People who struggle to fall asleep often turn to melatonin to facilitate bedtime preparations. Some users, however, may experience grogginess upon waking, prompting concerns about potential adverse effects on brain function during sleep.
Contrary to these worries, research has indicated that melatonin possesses memory-enhancing properties in animals, with new findings from Japan underscoring these benefits at a molecular level.
Researchers at Sophia University in Tokyo conducted a study that goes into microscopic changes occurring in mouse brains when exposed to melatonin or its derivatives.
They specifically investigated three compounds—melatonin itself, its biological metabolite N1-acetyl-5-methoxyquinuramine (AMK), and ramelteon, a drug that activates melatonin receptors—to understand their impact on memory formation.
Memory formation, whether short-term or long-term, hinges on the phosphorylation—a biochemical process involving the addition of phosphate groups—of specific proteins associated with memory.
The study focused on several memory-related proteins: extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase IIα (CaMKIIα), CaMKIIβ, CaMKIV, and the cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB).
Lead author Atsuhiko Chiba explained the study’s objective: “Our study aimed to investigate the effects of melatonin, ramelteon, and N1-acetyl-5-methoxyquinuramine (AMK) on the relative phosphorylation levels of memory-related proteins in order to look for candidate signaling pathways associated with the receptor- and nonreceptor-mediated memory-enhancing effects of melatonin.”
Ultimately, the researchers discovered that melatonin contributes to the formation of long-term memories by influencing the phosphorylation levels of memory-related proteins such as ERK, CaMKIIs, and CREB through both receptor-mediated and nonreceptor-mediated pathways.
Chiba summarized their findings, stating, “Our findings suggest that melatonin is involved in promoting the formation of long-term object recognition memory by modulating the phosphorylation levels of memory-related proteins such as ERK, CaMKIIs, and CREB in both receptor-mediated and nonreceptor-mediated signaling pathways.”
The team remains optimistic that these study results will pave the way for developing new drugs aimed at enhancing memory function in individuals suffering from age-related memory decline—a prospect that holds significant promise as the global population ages.
For now, considering the potential benefits, stocking up on melatonin gummies might be a prudent step.
