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Genetics

Genetics articles related to neuroscience research will be listed here.

·April 21, 2025·5 min read

Tandem Repeats May Explain Autism Risk

New research has uncovered a genetic connection between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a rare neuromuscular disease. The study identifies tandem repeat expansions (TREs) in the DMPK gene as a shared mechanism that disrupts gene splicing and contributes to ASD-like social behaviors in individuals with DM1.

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Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 17, 2025·3 min read

How Age, Sex, and Genetics Shape Blood Biomarkers for Dementia

A new study reveals how age, sex, menopause, and genetics influence key blood biomarkers linked to dementia risk. Researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 people, measuring three biomarkers over a 17-year period and comparing results between those who developed dementia and those who did not.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 15, 2025·6 min read

Early Brain Circuit Disruption Linked to Autism Social Challenges

New research has uncovered a disrupted brain communication pathway in children with autism that impairs their ability to quickly shift attention—an essential skill for social interaction. This discovery was made by studying both children with autism and genetically modified mice lacking the Shank3 gene, a common cause of ASD.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·4 min read

One Gene Mutation Disrupts Both Immunity and Brain Development

Researchers have uncovered a surprising mechanism by which a single genetic mutation in the BCL11B gene causes both immune dysfunction and brain development issues. Instead of merely disabling the protein’s normal function, the mutated BCL11B protein interferes with other healthy proteins, such as BCL11A, causing broader damage.

Brain Cancer Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 14, 2025·4 min read

Shared Protein Link Found Between Parkinson’s and Cancer

A new study reveals that the protein alpha-synuclein, known for its role in Parkinson’s disease, also contributes to the development of melanoma by promoting excessive DNA repair and cell proliferation. While in neurons, excess alpha-synuclein leads to cell death, in melanoma cells it enables uncontrolled growth by recruiting repair proteins to DNA breaks.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 12, 2025·4 min read

Newly Discovered Gene Mutation Linked to Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Researchers have identified mutations in the non-coding gene RNU2-2 as a cause of a newly defined neurodevelopmental disorder, often accompanied by severe epilepsy. The discovery sheds light on the critical role of small non-coding genes in brain development and could affect thousands of families globally.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 12, 2025·5 min read

Brain Enzyme Limits Risk of Drug Relapse

New research reveals that the enzyme HDAC5 plays a critical role in suppressing a gene (Scn4b) that regulates brain activity associated with drug-related memories, which are central to relapse in substance use disorders (SUDs). By limiting expression of Scn4b, HDAC5 reduces the excitability of neurons in the brain’s reward system, weakening the formation of powerful drug-environment associations.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 12, 2025·5 min read

New Genes Linked to Parkinson’s Risk Revealed

Researchers have long wondered why some people with high-risk Parkinson’s gene variants develop the disease while others don’t. A new study has uncovered that additional genetic players, particularly the Commander gene complex, influence whether the disease manifests.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·April 12, 2025·4 min read

Six1 Protein May Unlock New Clues to Congenital Hearing Loss

Congenital deafness affects roughly one in 1,000 babies and is often linked to genetic mutations, many of which remain unidentified. Researchers have now pinpointed a new set of candidate genes regulated by the protein Six1, which plays a critical role in inner ear development.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 11, 2025·6 min read

Hidden Neural Stem Cells May Hold Key to Brain Regeneration

Scientists have identified a previously unknown type of neural stem cell (pNSC) that exists outside the brain and spinal cord, overturning decades of neuroscience dogma. These peripheral neural stem cells, discovered in tissues like the lung and tail of mice, share key properties with brain-derived neural stem cells, including the ability to self-renew and differentiate into neurons.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 10, 2025·5 min read

Blocking Tim-3 Boosts Microglia in Alzheimer’s

New research reveals that the immune checkpoint molecule Tim-3 plays a critical role in how microglia, the brain’s immune cells, respond to Alzheimer’s disease. While Tim-3 normally helps maintain brain homeostasis, it can also inhibit microglia from clearing harmful plaques that accumulate in Alzheimer’s.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·April 10, 2025·3 min read

Mini-Brain Models Reveal a New Dementia-Linked Protein Pathway

Scientists have discovered a new protein pathway involved in neurodegeneration by studying “mini-brain” organoids made from patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). They found that the protein GRAMD1B plays a crucial role in managing cholesterol and lipid balance within neurons—processes closely linked to Alzheimer’s and FTLD.