Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists

Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Evaluation of fully automated ApoE4 proteotyping for <i>APOE</i> ε4 genotype estimation in the FINDERI cohort.

Alzheimer's & dementia (Amsterdam, Netherlands)·2026

Same author

Amyloid Plaques Ameliorate Memory Deficits and Hippocampal Neuron Loss in an Aβ4-42-Driven Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model.

Molecular neurobiology·2026

Same author

The Uppsala APP Mutation Promotes Wild-Type Amyloid-β Aggregation and Deposition In Vivo.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026

Same author

Aggregation-dependent epitope sequence and modification fingerprints of anti-Aβ antibodies.

eLife·2026

Same author

4R-tau seeding activity reveals molecular subtypes in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Aggregation-Dependent Epitope Sequence and Modification Fingerprints of Anti-Aβ Antibodies.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 20, 2025

An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze

An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze

Published on: July 29, 2025

Combined long-term enriched environment and caffeine supplementation improve memory function in C57Bl6 mice.

Martina Stazi¹, Silvia Zampar¹, Madeleine Nadolny¹

¹Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center (UMG), Georg-August-University, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.

European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

|June 8, 2022

Summary

Combining caffeine with environmental enrichment enhances memory and cognitive function in mice. This suggests potential for combined physical activity and caffeine to support brain health and combat cognitive decline.

Keywords:

Behavior Caffeine Enriched environment Neurogenesis Physical activity Wildtype mice

More Related Videos

The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

Published on: December 29, 2014

Analysis of Learning and Memory Ability in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model using the Morris Water Maze

Analysis of Learning and Memory Ability in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model using the Morris Water Maze

Published on: October 29, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 20, 2025

An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze

An Appetitive Spatial Working Memory Task for Mice in a Semi-Automated 8-Arm Radial Maze, Reducing Fearful Memory Association in the Maze

Published on: July 29, 2025

The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

The Use of the Puzzle Box as a Means of Assessing the Efficacy of Environmental Enrichment

Published on: December 29, 2014

Analysis of Learning and Memory Ability in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model using the Morris Water Maze

Analysis of Learning and Memory Ability in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model using the Morris Water Maze

Published on: October 29, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Aging Research

Background:

Regular physical activity supports healthy brain aging, improving cognition, learning, and memory.
Caffeine acts as a cognitive enhancer with potential neuroprotective properties and is known to improve athletic performance.
Limited research exists on the combined effects of physical activity and caffeine on cognitive performance.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of caffeine supplementation combined with prolonged physical and cognitive stimulation (enriched environment) on cognitive function.
To analyze the impact of this combination on memory, recognition, and spatial working memory.
To explore the molecular mechanisms, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression, underlying these effects.

Main Methods:

Mice (C57Bl6 wild-type) were housed in an enriched environment (EE) for 4 months with or without caffeine supplementation.
Cognitive performance was assessed using behavioral paradigms including the novel object recognition task and the Morris water maze.
Gene expression levels of BDNF in the hippocampus were measured.

Main Results:

Caffeine supplementation combined with prolonged environmental enrichment significantly enhanced memory function in mice.
Improved recognition and spatial working memory were observed in mice receiving both treatments.
Mice in EE conditions exhibited increased gene expression of BDNF in the hippocampus.

Conclusions:

Combined caffeine supplementation and prolonged physical/cognitive stimulation (EE) enhance memory and cognitive function.
This combinatorial approach shows promise for preventing age-related cognitive decline.
The findings suggest potential for new therapeutic strategies involving physical activity and caffeine.