Non-binary link to autism
Non-binary and transgender people have a higher risk of autism, a new study reports. The risk is significantly higher for those who were assigned the female gender at birth.... Read More...
brain development
To cure brain diseases, neuroscientists must collaborate: That’s why I’m giving my data away
Open sharing of scientific data and standard methods will allow researchers to collaborate on projects and accelerate understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.... Read More...
Determined DNA hunt reveals schizophrenia clue
NAPRT1, a gene that encodes an enzyme involved in vitamin B3 metabolism, may be a risk factor for schizophrenia. Knocking out the gene in zebrafish models, researchers discovered brain development became impaired. Without NAPRT1, the fish brains failed to divide symmetrically, which is significant as defects in the corpus callosum have been identified in those with schizophrenia.... Read More...
The neuroscience of autism: New clues for how condition begins
A mutation of the Memo1 gene results in the disruption of radial glial cell scaffold, causing misplaced and disorganized layers. The mutation may be responsible for brain development abnormalities associated with autism.... Read More...
Researchers discover genetic mutation behind serious skull disorder
A mutation in the BCL11B gene appears to be responsible for a rare skull development disorder called craniosynostosis.... Read More...
Low UVB exposure during pregnancy linked to higher rates of learning disabilities
Lower exposure to UVB rays during pregnancy has been linked to an increased risk of learning disabilities in children. According to the study, lower UVB exposure during the first trimester had a slightly stronger correlation with neurodevelopmental disorders.... Read More...
Mood neurons mature during adolescence
Late developing neurons in the amygdala may be responsible for emotional development and mood disorders, researchers report. ... Read More...
Discovery of the cell fate switch from neurons to astrocytes in the developing brain
The FGF signaling pathway is an important extracellular regulator in the fate of neural stem cells switching from neurons to astrocytes in the cerebral cortex. ... Read More...
Processed foods may hold key to rise in autism
Eating processed food which contains Propionic Acid (PPA) during pregnancy may affect neural stem cell development in the fetal brain. Excessive PPA reduces the number of neurons and over-produces glial cells, causing inflammation. Additionally, PPA shortens neural pathways. The combination of damaged pathways and reduced neurons may be associated with behavioral deficits associated with ASD.... Read More...
Dormant neural stem cells in fruit flies activate to generate new brain cells
Awakening dormant stem cells could stimulate the growth of new neurons. The findings could have significant implications for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.... Read More...
Adolescence is the game-changer for schizophrenia
Teens with schizophrenia symptoms and a genetic abnormality of chromosome 22 had significant brain atrophy in the hippocampus compared to those with the genetic variant and no psychiatric symptoms.... Read More...
Using gene editing, neuroscientists develop a new model for autism
Using CRISPR gene editing, researchers introduce the SHANK3 gene variant into macaque monkeys. SHANK3 has previously been linked to autism in humans. The monkeys with the SHANK3 mutations exhibited behavioral traits and brain activity patterns similar to those seen in humans on the autism spectrum, Researchers hope the new model will facilitate new avenues of research for ASD.... Read More...