Researchers have uncovered a surprising link between gut immune cells and the brain in Alzheimer’s disease.
Category: neuroscience – Page 5
Two distinct microglia populations linked to autism-like and depression-like behaviors in mice
The anterior insular cortex (aIC) is an important brain region known to contribute to the regulation of emotions, the integration of bodily sensations, decision-making and some other functions. Past studies have linked this brain region to some neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by unusual patterns of thinking and behavior, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and depression.
However, the precise cellular and neurobiological processes via which the aIC might contribute to ASD and depression have not yet been clearly elucidated. Some neuroscientists have been exploring the possibility that microglia, immune cells that play a role in eliminating damaged cells and pathogens, could play a role in some of the behaviors linked with these two neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers at Tsinghua University recently carried out a study involving mice, aimed at investigating the possibility that microglia in the aIC play a part in some of the symptoms of ASD and depression. Their paper, published in Molecular Psychiatry, identifies two distinct subtypes of microglia that appear to contribute to autism-like and depression-like behavior in mice.
Scientists create realistic brain-wide connection maps through digital modeling
EPFL researchers have developed a powerful method to generate brain-wide, biologically realistic wiring maps of the mouse brain. Their approach bridges experimental data with mathematical and computational modeling to simulate how neurons connect across the entire brain.
The study is published in the journal Nature Communications.
One of neuroscience’s greatest challenges is understanding how the brain is wired. Even with modern imaging tools, it has been a challenge to create detailed maps that show how the brain’s billions of cells (neurons) connect, not just with their local “neighbors” but also to other, more distant cells in the brain.
How the distinctive folds in the brain cortex, seen in humans, whales, other animals, form
One of the defining features of humans is our brain’s remarkable capacity for language, planning, memory, creativity, and more. These abilities stem not just from our large brain size, but also from the folded structure of the brain’s outer layer, the cerebral cortex.
A new study, published in the journal Nature Communications, offers insight into how these wrinkles form, pointing to a range of contributing factors—including the number of early-stage brain cells, how they migrate during development, and the specific types of cells involved.
These findings may help guide future research into brain development, evolution, and health.
Scientists Reverse Dementia-Like Memory Loss in Mice by Supercharging Brain Cells
By boosting the activity of cellular ‘power stations’ in the brains of mice with a dementia-like condition, an international team of researchers has reversed pathological memory loss.
Problems with energy-producing cellular structures called mitochondria have previously been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Before now, it wasn’t clear if this was a cause or a consequence of these conditions.
“This work is the first to establish a cause-and-effect link between mitochondrial dysfunction and symptoms related to neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that impaired mitochondrial activity could be at the origin of the onset of neuronal degeneration,” says Giovanni Marsicano, a neuroscientist from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM).
Tianjin trials brain-computer interface for neurocritical care
China initiated its first multi-center clinical trial for brain-computer interface technology in neurocritical care on Sunday, marking a significant expansion of BCI applications beyond the rehabilitation of motor and cognitive functions.
The trial, launched in Tianjin, aims to explore new therapeutic approaches for severe neurological conditions.
Led by the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration at Tianjin University and Tianjin Huanhu Hospital, the project brings together leading medical institutions from Beijing, Tianjin, Henan province, and other regions.
“This initiative will pave the way for broader medical applications, offering Chinese technologies, standards, and protocols for precise management of neurocritical conditions,” said Liu Xiuyun, deputy director of the Haihe Laboratory.
Cambridge study shows stem cell grafts can restore myelin in MS lesions in mice
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the central nervous system, leading to the destruction of myelin, the protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres. This damage is a leading cause of neurological disability in young adults.
In the early stages of MS, certain cells possess the capacity to partially repair this damage by generating new myelin. However, this regenerative ability reduces significantly in the later, chronic progressive stage of the disease. This decline in repair contributes to further damage to neurons and increasing disability in individuals with progressive MS.
Despite advancements in treatments, current therapies mostly focus on managing symptoms but do not halt or reverse the damage and neurodegeneration caused. This shows the critical need for a more profound understanding of how MS progresses and to explore how stem cell technologies could help MS treatment.
The study, published in the journal Brain, was spearheaded by University of Cambridge scientist Dr. Luca Peruzzotti-Jametti and offers crucial insights into the potential of neural stem cell transplantation in people with progressive MS. While neural stem cell transplants present a promising avenue for repairing the damaged central nervous system, the limits of their capacity to repair are being investigated by researchers.
(Utilizng stem cells for many innovative treatments is not a question of how, but rather when)
A study led by Cambridge researchers has shed light on how neural stem cell grafts could help restore myelin in the central nervous system. The findings suggest that neural stem cell-based therapies hold promise as a potential treatment for chronic demyelinating disorders, particularly progressive multiple sclerosis.