Kinase enzymes are essential for neurons to perform autophagy. Researchers found deleting genes that encode kinase NDR1 and NDR2 impairs neuron health and spurs neurodegeneration in both young and old mice.
The autism-linked Gabrb3 gene appears to shape the formation of both normal and atypical neural connections in the brain.
Researchers induced non-neural cells that mimic ganglion cells in the eyes of mice, effectively reducing the impact of certain eye diseases. They hope to next replicate their technique in humans in order to help restore vision lost due to eye diseases.
People with schizophrenia have significantly higher rates of tandem repeats in their genome, up to 7% more than in people without the mental health disorder. The genes were primarily found in genes crucial to brain function.
Activating TREM2 on microglia in the brains of those with Alzheimer's could help slow down the progression of the neurodegenerative disease.
The fossil of a 525-million-year-old tiny sea creature with a preserved nervous system may solve a century-long debate about how the brains of arthropods evolved.
Octopuses have a massively expanded repertoire of miRNA in their neural tissue, reflecting a similar development to that which occurred in vertebrates. Findings suggest miRNA plays a significant role in the development of complex brains.
The shape of a specific set of proteins differs in the spinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease compared to those without the neurodegenerative disease.
Study reveals a signaling pathway that controls the formation of synapses between pyramidal neurons and inhibitory neurons expressing the parvalbumin protein.
The TOP2a gene controls a network of genes that contribute to ASD. Drugs that suppress TOP2a during development can turn on a cluster of other genes that disrupt brain development and increase autism risks. Alterations to the TOP2a gene may be responsible for the social behavioral difficulties associated with ASD.
Researchers have identified two new genes, ATP8B4 and ABCA1, that are implicated in Alzheimer's disease. The genes impact the brain's immune system and cholesterol processing, leading to an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
A novel compound eliminates disease-causing segments of RNA associated with ALS and dementia, and restores the health of neurons in mouse models.
