Aging-induced memory loss due to decreased N1-acetyl-5-methoxykynuramine,a melatonin metabolite,in the hippocampus:a potential prophylactic agent for dementia

Melatonin(N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine)is known as the hormone of darkness because it is synthesized at night and involved in regulating the circadian clock.The hormone is primarily synthesized by the vertebrate pineal gland,but is ubiquitous among invertebrates,unicellular organisms,plants,and even cyanobacteria(Hattori and Suzuki,2024).Melatonin is well-conserved evolutionarily and possesses several physiological functions,such as immune response,bone and glucose metabolism,and memory formation besides regulating the circadian rhythm.