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myelin

·December 11, 2025·7 min read

Losing Myelin Scrambles the Brain’s Sensory Signals

New research reveals that even a small loss of myelin—the protective coating around neurons—can severely disrupt how the brain sends and interprets sensory information. Studying corticothalamic circuits in mice, scientists found that when the first segment of myelin closest to the neuron’s cell body was degraded, nerve signals slowed and lost their crucial “first wave,” altering how sensory information was encoded.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 9, 2025·8 min read

Compound Could Repair Nerve Damage in Multiple Sclerosis

Researchers have identified two compounds capable of repairing the protective myelin sheath damaged by multiple sclerosis, a major advance toward reversing nerve injury rather than just slowing it. The lead compound, K102, not only promotes remyelination but also balances immune function—key for long-term neurological recovery.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 25, 2025·4 min read

Dopamine Links Social Isolation to Brain Myelin Damage

A new five-year study explores how dopamine may drive changes in brain myelin during social isolation. Researchers will track how dopamine interacts with oligodendrocytes, the cells responsible for producing myelin and supporting neuron function.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 7, 2025·6 min read

Stem Cell Grafts Show Promise in Repairing Myelin in MS

A new study reveals that neural stem cell grafts can generate new myelin in the central nervous system, offering hope for treating progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). Researchers showed that induced neural stem cells matured into myelin-producing oligodendrocytes and safely integrated into damaged regions in a mouse model.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 30, 2025·6 min read

Alzheimer’s May Disrupt Nerve Insulation Without Reducing Myelin

New research reveals that Alzheimer's disease may impair nerve function not by reducing myelin, but by altering the proteins at the critical interface between axons and their myelin sheath. Scientists found structural abnormalities in the paranode region, where myelin attaches to axons, including clogged nutrient channels and protein buildup that could block signal transmission.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Psychology

·April 18, 2025·5 min read

Disrupted Myelin Protein Implicated in Schizophrenia

A new study has identified the protein hnRNP A1 as a key player in the production and maintenance of myelin, the fatty sheath that insulates nerve fibers in the brain. Myelin loss is common in disorders like multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia, and this research shows that hnRNP A1 disruptions can impair myelination at the molecular level, even before behavioral symptoms appear.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 10, 2025·4 min read

Exercise Depletes Brain Myelin, But It Recovers Fully

New research shows that running a marathon can cause a temporary reduction in brain myelin, the fatty substance that insulates neurons and supports efficient communication. This decrease, observed in regions related to motor coordination and sensory processing, appears to result from the body using myelin lipids as an energy reserve when other fuels are exhausted.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 1, 2025·4 min read

Maternal Inflammation May Disrupt Infant Brain Wiring

A new study reveals that inflammation during pregnancy may impair neurodevelopment in infants by reducing CD11c-positive microglia—key immune cells that support brain myelination. These cells produce IGF-1, a protein critical for forming the myelin sheath that helps nerve signals travel efficiently.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 20, 2024·6 min read

Gene Repair Restores Brain Signal Efficiency in Autism

Autism-linked SHANK3 gene mutations disrupt not only neurons but also oligodendrocytes, essential for producing myelin, which insulates nerve fibers. This damage reduces brain signal efficiency and impairs behavior. Using gene therapy, researchers successfully repaired these cells in a mouse model, restoring their function and myelin production. They validated their findings with human-derived stem cells, confirming similar impairments and repair mechanisms.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 3, 2024·8 min read

Researchers Create Cell-Level Wearable Devices to Restore Neuron Function

Researchers have developed tiny, wireless devices capable of wrapping around individual neurons, potentially aiding in the treatment of neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. These devices, made from a soft polymer, roll up snugly around cell structures when exposed to light, allowing precise measurement and modulation of cellular activity. As they’re battery-free and actuated noninvasively by light, thousands of them could be deployed in the body simultaneously.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 8, 2024·8 min read

Light and Sound Therapy Maintains Myelin in Alzheimer’s

A new study finds that 40Hz light and sound therapy helps maintain myelin, a crucial brain structure, in Alzheimer's patients. This therapy, which protects neurons and supports brain function, could offer new treatment avenues for neurodegenerative diseases. Researchers discovered that this stimulation enhances neural connections and reduces harmful inflammation. The therapy also shows potential for treating other conditions involving myelin loss, such as multiple sclerosis.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 5, 2024·7 min read

New Multiple Sclerosis Drug Regenerates Myelin, Improves Movement

A new drug, PIPE-307, shows promise in reversing multiple sclerosis (MS) damage by promoting myelin regeneration around nerve cells, potentially restoring movement and function. Developed by researchers, this innovative therapy targets a specific receptor, M1R, and has already demonstrated success in animal models. PIPE-307 is currently in Phase II clinical trials, offering hope for a groundbreaking treatment that could stop and even heal the damage caused by MS. This novel approach could transform the future of MS therapy by addressing both symptoms and underlying damage.