This compound enhances long-term memory of mice - but only in females

"Female mice that received acetate performed better on tests of spatial and object memory compared with those given a saline placebo. Male mice showed little to no benefit. The researchers found that acetate altered the expression of genes in the brain by modifying the histone proteins - the proteins around which DNA is tightly wrapped - a process called histone acetylation."

"Histone acetylation loosens how tightly DNA is packed, making it easier for the genes to be read by the cells molecular machinery and 'switched on'. Specifically, the team found changes in the histone variant H2A.Z, which has been previously linked to long-term memory. Acetate also increased the expression of genes linked to learning in the female dorsal hippocampus."

Acetate, a metabolic by-product from breaking down alcohol, glucose, and high-fiber foods, enhances memory in female mice. Researchers injected acetate into mice and tested their memory using two tasks involving the dorsal hippocampus. In the first task, mice were shown two matching objects, then 24 hours later one object was moved to a new location. Female mice receiving acetate remembered the location change better than those given placebo, while male mice showed minimal benefit. In a second task, one of two matching objects was changed after 24 hours, and again female mice with acetate performed better on spatial and object memory tests. The mechanism involves acetate modifying histone proteins through acetylation, loosening DNA packaging and enabling genes to be more easily read and activated, particularly affecting the H2A.Z histone variant linked to long-term memory.

Read at Nature