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myelin

The image shows pencil drawings of sea lampreys by Alexander Francis Lydon.

·February 25, 2013·3 min read

Scientists Find Genes Linked to Human Neurological Disorders in Sea Lamprey Genome

Scientists have identified several genes linked to human neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury, in the sea lamprey. The lamprey has large, identified neurons in its brain and spinal cord, making it an excellent model to study regeneration at the single cell-level.

The image shows a schematic structure of Insulin-like growth factor-1.

Autism Featured

·January 31, 2013·4 min read

Researcher Uncovers Potential Cause, Biomarker for Autism and Proposes Study to Investigate Theory

Based on prior findings, researchers propose that depressed levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) in the blood of newborns could potentially serve as a biomarker for the later development of autism.

The image shows an oligodendrocyte transfected with GFP (Green Fluorescent Protein).

Featured Neuroscience

·January 30, 2013·2 min read

New Drug Target Identified for Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease

Researchers report that the protein Klotho plays an important role in the health of myelin, the insulating material allowing for the rapid communication between nerve cells. These findings may lead to new therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The image shows a cross section through a mouse nerve.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 28, 2013·2 min read

Glial Cells Assist in the Repair of Injured Nerves

Researchers have discovered that, following nerve damage, peripheral glial cells produce the growth factor neuregulin1, which assists in the regeneration of damaged nerves.

Featured Genetics Neurology

·October 25, 2012·4 min read

Researchers at the Doorstep of Stem Cell Therapies for MS, Other Myelin Disorders

Scientists report researchers are now on the threshold of human application of stem cell therapies for a class of neurological diseases known as myelin disorders – a long list of diseases that include conditions such as multiple sclerosis, white matter stroke, cerebral palsy, certain dementias, and rare but fatal childhood disorders called pediatric leukodystrophies.

MRI image of a patient with multiple sclerosis is shown.

Featured Neurology

·October 2, 2012·4 min read

Low Vitamin D Levels Linked to More Severe Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Low blood levels of vitamin D are associated with an increased number of brain lesions and signs of a more active disease state in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study finds, suggesting a potential link between intake of the vitamin and the risk of longer-term disability from the autoimmune disorder.

Featured Psychology

·September 13, 2012·3 min read

How Early Social Deprivation Impairs Long-Term Cognitive Function

A study shows social isolation during early life prevents the cells that make up the brain's white matter from maturing and producing the right amount of myelin, the fatty "insulation" on nerve fibers that helps them transmit long-distance messages within the brain.

Featured Neurology

·September 11, 2012·3 min read

Research Finds Ginkgo Biloba Doesn’t Improve Cognitive Function in MS

A new research study conducted has found that the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba does not improve cognitive function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS.)

Featured Neurology

·June 11, 2012·2 min read

Research May Hold Key to Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

A receptor recently discovered to control the movement of immune cells across the blood-brain barrier may hold the key to...

Featured Neuroscience

·May 10, 2012·4 min read

Glial Cells Supply Nerve Fibers with Energy-Rich Metabolic Products

Glial cells pass on metabolites to neurons. Around 100 billion neurons in the human brain enable us to think, feel...

Featured Genetics

·February 10, 2012·4 min read

Researchers Develop Gene Therapy to Boost Brain Repair for Demyelinating Diseases

Our bodies are full of tiny superheroes—antibodies that fight foreign invaders, cells that regenerate, and structures that ensure our systems...

Electrophysiology Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 27, 2011·3 min read

Myelination, Schwann Cells Devastated in Erk Knock-out Mice

The researchers knocked out the Erk gene during peripheral nervous system development in mice. The researchers noticed the neurons of these knock-out mice were largely unaffected, but Schwann cells were "just devastated at every stage of development."