Duringhibernation, the levels of tau protein in a squirrel's hippocampal cells are directly correlated with the loss of synapses but not with the appearance of lesions.
Biotech firm Hiberna, hatched last year with undisclosed funding from Boulder Ventures, has used DNA chips to spot 15 genes that appear crucial for protecting tissue duringhibernation.
West London Mental Health NHS Trust said none of the current bat roosts would be disturbed or destroyed during the hibernation period, which runs from November until March.