FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·November 22, 2022·3 min readNew Alzheimer’s Genes Discovered in World’s Largest StudyResearchers 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.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·November 23, 2022·5 min readGene That Guides Earliest Social Behaviors Could Be Key to Understanding AutismThe 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.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 25, 2022·3 min readEssential Signaling Pathway for Neuronal Connectivity During Brain Development IdentifiedStudy reveals a signaling pathway that controls the formation of synapses between pyramidal neurons and inhibitory neurons expressing the parvalbumin protein.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·November 25, 2022·4 min readProtein Shapes Could Indicate Parkinson’s DiseaseThe 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.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·November 26, 2022·6 min readWhat Octopus and Human Brains Have in CommonOctopuses 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.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·November 27, 2022·6 min read525-Million-Year-Old Fossil Defies Textbook Explanation for Brain EvolutionThe 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·November 29, 2022·3 min readThe Brain’s Immune Cells Can Be Triggered to Slow Down Alzheimer’s DiseaseActivating TREM2 on microglia in the brains of those with Alzheimer's could help slow down the progression of the neurodegenerative disease.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·December 1, 2022·4 min readRare Genetic Phenomenon Linked to Neuron Function and SchizophreniaPeople 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.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceVisual Neuroscience·December 1, 2022·4 min readGanglion Cells Created in Mice in Bid to Fix Diseased EyesResearchers 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.Read More
AutismFeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 2, 2022·4 min readAutism-Linked Gene Found to Shape Nerve ConnectionsThe autism-linked Gabrb3 gene appears to shape the formation of both normal and atypical neural connections in the brain.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·December 3, 2022·3 min readGenes That Maintain Healthy Neurons IdentifiedKinase 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.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·December 5, 2022·4 min readNew Blood Test Can Detect ‘Toxic’ Protein Years Before Alzheimer’s Symptoms EmergeA new blood test can detect toxic amyloid beta oligomers associated with Alzheimer's disease years before symptoms appear.Read More