Memory, Disrupted

Dendrites are the branchlike extensions of neuron cell bodies that form synapses, receiving information from other neurons. The image above shows dendrites (light blue) in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory. These dendrites provide special proteins (purple dots) needed for synapse function. Scientists now believe that this protein delivery process may be disrupted in brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. Studying these dendrites may help scientists understand the processes behind this debilitating disease.