Latest

myelin

·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.

Featured Neuroscience

·June 5, 2024·6 min read

Brain Plasticity’s Dark Side: New Insights into Addiction Mechanisms

Researchers discovered that adaptive myelination, a form of brain plasticity, contributes to drug addiction. A single morphine dose in mice triggered myelination in reward-related brain circuits, reinforcing drug-seeking behavior. Blocking this myelination prevented addiction, highlighting potential new treatment strategies.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 2, 2024·7 min read

Myelin Repair Provides Novel Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

Researchers discovered a promising treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) using a novel protein function inhibitor, ESI1, which effectively regenerates myelin—a crucial protective coating on nerve cells that deteriorates in MS. The study showcases that ESI1 reactivates the brain's capacity to produce myelin, overcoming traditional barriers that have hindered myelin regeneration.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·February 15, 2024·5 min read

Ancient Viruses Shaped Our Brains

Ancient viruses played a pivotal role in the development of myelin, crucial for complex vertebrate brains. The discovery of "RetroMyelin," a retrovirus-derived element essential for myelin production across mammals, amphibians, and fish, underscores the impact of viral genes on vertebrate evolution.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 28, 2023·6 min read

Redefining Myelin Damage

A new study explores the intricate relationship between myelin degeneration and neuron health. Contrary to the traditional view that demyelination primarily leads to axon degeneration, the study found that axons enwrapped in defective myelin are at a higher risk.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 23, 2023·7 min read

New Tools Illuminate Myelin Growth in Infants

Researchers are grappling with vast datasets to unravel brain mysteries. A team employed new software to analyze MRIs from 300 infants, revealing that myelin in white matter grows slower after birth.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·August 24, 2023·5 min read

Unlocking Myelin Regeneration

Researchers revealed a pivotal mechanism in myelin repair and regeneration, focusing on the Daam2 protein and CK2α kinase. Myelin, critical for efficient neurotransmission, when damaged leads to serious neurological diseases.

1 2 3 4 … 19

myelin

Exercise Depletes Brain Myelin, But It Recovers Fully

Maternal Inflammation May Disrupt Infant Brain Wiring

Gene Repair Restores Brain Signal Efficiency in Autism

Researchers Create Cell-Level Wearable Devices to Restore Neuron Function

Light and Sound Therapy Maintains Myelin in Alzheimer’s

New Multiple Sclerosis Drug Regenerates Myelin, Improves Movement

Brain Plasticity’s Dark Side: New Insights into Addiction Mechanisms

Myelin Repair Provides Novel Multiple Sclerosis Treatment

Ancient Viruses Shaped Our Brains

Redefining Myelin Damage

New Tools Illuminate Myelin Growth in Infants

Unlocking Myelin Regeneration

3D-Printed “Honeycomb” Sensors Match Your Unique Neural Map

Glutathione Prevents Cellular Clogs

Cortisol Kill-Switch: Exercise Rewires Stress Biology

AI Restores Voices Through Microscopic Neck Movements

Subscribe