Articles tagged with Motor Neurons
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A new brain pathway has been discovered linking motivation, addiction, and disease, with the cerebellum playing a crucial role. The basal ganglia and cerebellum are traditionally thought to function independently, but this connection may change our understanding of voluntary movements and conditioned learning.
Researchers discovered that a specific phase of neck motor neuron activation in roundworms adjusts their trajectory toward higher salt concentrations. This finding highlights the neural mechanisms underlying navigation and sensory-motor integration, shedding light on how even simple animals adapt to environmental changes.
A new epidemiological study reveals that bacterial meningitis can cause significant and lasting neurological disabilities in children. The infection can be cured with antibiotics, but it often leads to permanent impairment. Researchers analyzed data from over 3,500 people who contracted bacterial meningitis as children and found a high...
Researchers found that brain waves are slower in deep cortical layers and faster in superficial layers, with gamma waves dominating the topmost layers. These oscillations may play a fundamental role in brain function and contribute to disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Researchers at Nagoya University have discovered a relationship between ALS progression and the disruption of mitochondria-associated membranes (MAM) and TBK1 activity. Decreased activation of TBK1 is linked to motor neuron death in ALS patients and mice with disrupted MAM.
Research suggests that structural changes in upper motor neurons send a signal to immune cells, leading to toxic effects on neurons and reduced synaptic connections. Blocking inflammation with a semi-synthetic drug can restore synaptic connections and improve ALS symptoms.
Researchers found that the deletion of the Gtf2i gene impairs mitochondrial organelle formation and function, leading to abnormal cell behavior and neurodevelopmental pathologies. This discovery sheds light on the mechanism behind Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterized by cognitive and social impairments.
Scientists at the University of Bath have found that the gene Angiogenin plays an important role in the development of nerve cells. In its mutated form, it causes stem cells to persist in their original state longer than they should, resulting in neurodevelopmental defects.
Scientists have created a self-organizing neuromuscular junction model from human pluripotent stem cells to study complex neuromuscular diseases. The 2D and 3D cultures mimic the physiological situation, allowing researchers to perform high-throughput drug screening for novel treatments.
Researchers at Salk Institute assembled the most complete atlas of the mouse brain by analyzing over 2 million brain cells. The detailed atlas reveals thousands of cell types, their connections, genes, and regulatory programs active in each cell, providing new insights into human disease vulnerabilities.
A new neural circuit has been discovered in the brain that produces a strong sense of discomfort when activated. The study found that the subthalamic nucleus, which controls voluntary movements, also plays a role in the development of depression.
A new study explores how alpha-synuclein disrupts metabolic processes in neurons. Researchers used NanoSIMS imaging techniques to visualize isotopic variations and found changes in carbon turnover, suggesting increased metabolic demands on affected cells.
Researchers analyzed over 2 million cells from 400 postmortem brain samples to identify cellular pathways that could become new drug targets for Alzheimer's treatments. They found impairments in mitochondrial function, synaptic signaling, and protein complexes, as well as disrupted lipid metabolism.
Researchers discovered that brain nerve networks are organized into interconnected modules to segregate and integrate inputs, enabling efficient processing. This modular architecture allows the brain to balance local activity with global integration, essential for information representation.
A new Northwestern Medicine study reveals that a dysfunction in the neuron's synapses leads to deficits in dopamine and precedes neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. The findings suggest targeting dysfunctional synapses before neurons degenerate may represent a better therapeutic strategy.
A groundbreaking review paper reveals the importance of GABA tone, the amount of GABA that regulates continuous signaling in the brain. The study identifies key mechanisms and functions, including astrocytes' role in regulating GABA tone and its impact on cognitive processes.
Researchers have identified a conserved brain region in vertebrates essential for initiating forward movement. The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) stimulates reticulospinal neurons to control finer details of movement. Mapping this circuit could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease.
Researchers found that insects like American cockroaches use the mushroom body to encode behavioral decision-making based on sensory information. The study challenges the prevailing view of insect cognition, suggesting a more complex brain function than previously thought.
Researchers used Drosophila to investigate how similar neurons develop unique properties through differential gene expression. The study found that two closely related neuron types differed in over 800 genes, leading to distinct functional characteristics.
Scientists have successfully restored damaged nerve-to-muscle connections in a highly aggressive mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using grafted replacement motor neurons and optical nerve stimulation. The treatment improved muscle contraction force by over 13-fold, suggesting its potential for treating ALS patients.
TDP-43 accumulation in neurons initiates disease progression, spreading to other motor-related neurons. The protein causes mild degeneration in cortical neurons but severe atrophy and cell death in spinal motor neurons.
A Northwestern University study reveals how the NEK1 gene mutation affects neurons, causing instability in microtubules and disrupting nuclear import. This discovery suggests anti-cancer drugs could be used to treat ALS by stabilizing microtubules.
Rice University scientists have developed a tiny, flexible spinal probe system that can record high-quality data from spinal cord neurons and provide localized stimulation. The new tool aims to improve our understanding of spinal cord function and potentially bring new hope to patients with injuries or conditions.
Researchers have identified a diverse range of dopamine neurons that control movement, contradicting the long-held assumption that they only respond to rewards. The study sheds new light on Parkinson's disease, which affects motor skills despite the loss of dopamine neurons.
Researchers discovered that stimulating dopamine neurons in mice's midbrain triggers orofacial movements, which are linked to brain-wide neuronal activities. The study identified two distinct orofacial movements: transient actions upon reward expectation and active, sustained movements upon receiving a reward.
A study published in Neuron reveals that hundreds of proteins and mRNA molecules are found in the wrong place in nerve cells affected by Motor Neurone Disease, a condition that causes paralysis. The researchers found that mislocalisation affects many more proteins than first thought, especially those involved in RNA binding.
Researchers discovered six distinct neuronal lineages in pons region of brainstem, critical to motor movements. Partial loss of Atoh1 gene function affects specific subtypes of pontine nuclei neurons, leading to differences in vulnerability.
Researchers created a detailed 3D image of the synapse, a key juncture in neuronal communication. The model reveals the precise geometry of interactions between individual cells, which may hold the key to understanding neurodegenerative diseases.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf have discovered a potential therapeutic approach for curing neurodegenerative diseases using magnetic fields. In vitro trials showed that damaged motor neurons can be restored by exposure to magnetic fields, leading to axonal transport and regeneration of mitochondria.
Researchers at Mainz University and Berlin found a previously unknown function of electrical synapses in the insect neural network, governing wing movement and generating consistent flight power. The discovery reveals new concepts of information processing by the central nervous system.
Researchers found that ropinirole is safe and effective in slowing ALS progression, with patients showing improved physical activity and muscle strength after treatment. The study suggests that the method of growing motor neurons from patient-derived stem cells could be used to predict a patient's response to the drug.
Researchers are investigating whether faecal microbiota transplantation can modulate the immune reaction and alter gut microbiota in early-stage ALS patients. The trial aims to investigate the relationship between specific gut bacteria and their action on immune system cells.
A Swedish study suggests that elite male footballers are 1.5 times more likely to develop neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, compared to population controls. Football players had a higher risk of dementia due to head trauma exposure, with goalkeepers showing no significant increase in risk.
The study reveals that gasdermin E drives changes in neurons that contribute to disease progression, leading to mitochondrial damage and axon degeneration. Inactivating gasdermin E prevents cellular damage and delays the progression of ALS in mice.
Researchers at the University of Sheffield's Institute of Translational Neuroscience have discovered a novel way to block the transportation of mutant RNA and toxic repeat proteins that lead to the death of nerve cells in most common forms of motor neurone disease (MND) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Using a peptide, they found tha...
A tiny worm called C. elegans is enabling scientists to explore the emerging theory that Parkinson’s disease starts in the gut, where a sticky protein causes neurons to die. The worms have a digestive tract and neurotransmitters similar to humans, making them a great model for studying cognitive problems associated with Parkinson's.
Researchers found that gene therapy approach and small molecule treatment can calm the destructive cells of ALS by preserving upper motor neurons. Improving mitochondrial health also reduces astrocyte attack on diseased neurons, offering new hope for treating ALS.
Researchers have generated large-scale muscle-controlling nerve cells from ALS patients, revealing striking differences in gene expression between males and females. The study, published in Neuron, used over 450 lines of stem cells to create motor neurons that can potentially lead to the development of new therapeutics.
Researchers at USC Keck School of Medicine have identified two new avenues for treating diverse forms of ALS by suppressing genes and inhibiting proteins. The findings suggest that targeting SYF2 gene suppression and PIKFYVE kinase inhibition may lead to broadly effective treatments for the disease.
Researchers identify vulnerable cell populations in the striatum, which contributes to loss of motor control and early mood disorders. Damage to striosomes may be responsible for mood disorders, while degeneration of matrix neurons likely contributes to motor decline.
A new study has identified distinct patterns of circular RNA expression in human ALS muscle tissue, which display disease-specific gradients and could inform about neuromuscular molecular programs in ALS. The research reveals that specific circRNAs are elevated in ALS muscle biopsies but reduced in spinal cord samples from ALS patients.
Researchers at the Universities of Bonn and Heidelberg identified a mechanism that ensures nerve cells and blood vessels grow without interfering with each other. By releasing semaphorin 3C, motor neurons signal vascular cells to pause growth, allowing for coordinated development during embryonic stages.
Scientists at the CRCHUM have identified a protective probiotic for ALS, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HA-114, that prevents neurodegeneration in the C. elegans worm model. The probiotic helps reduce motor disorders and restore balance to impaired energy metabolism, leading to a decrease in neurodegeneration.
A study published in Aging-US reveals changes in gene expression associated with age-related muscle loss and frailty. Researchers identified unique cellular subpopulations in aged and sarcopenic skeletal muscle, which may facilitate the development of new treatments for age-related frailty.
A new hallmark of ALS has been identified, revealing that loss of the RNA processing protein SFPQ leads to motor neuron degeneration. Defective mRNAs accumulate in axons and interfere with normal function, pointing to a possible new target for therapy.
Researchers at Ohio State University have found a clear link between the survival motor neuron protein and age-related muscle decline in mice, which may lead to the development of new therapies for sarcopenia. The study suggests that increasing SMN protein production could be a viable approach to addressing this age-related condition.
Scientists at King's College London and the University of Bath have made a groundbreaking discovery about a molecule that plays a crucial role in nerve cell development. The study found that this molecule, known as SNRNP70, is not only present in the nucleus but also in the cytoplasm of nerve cells, where it shapes messenger RNA strand...
A collaborative study reveals how genes controlling blood vessel cells influence motor neuron development, allowing them to navigate the body's systems. The discovery sheds light on diseases such as ALS and SMA, where motor neuron connections are destroyed.
Researchers from Humboldt University of Berlin and Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research examined the facial motor nucleus of African and Asian elephants. They found more facial motor neurons than any other terrestrial mammal, with African savanna elephants having up to 63,000 neurons.
Researchers investigate how motor proteins transport vital proteins and RNAs to the right location within cells, where they can cause or prevent genetic neurological diseases. By understanding these highly regulated transport systems, scientists hope to develop new treatments for conditions like spinal muscular atrophy and Charcot-Mari...
A new study found that arbitrary age limits and rules on genetic testing for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) could be missed, leading to thousands of potential cases going undetected. The researchers argue that genetic testing should be open to all patients with ALS, regardless of age or family history.
A University of Ottawa research team has made new discoveries on how motor skills are learned and stored in the brain. By studying mice, they found that a specific transcription factor called NPAS4 regulates gene changes in inhibitory neurons, leading to the formation of learning-associated neuron ensembles.
A novel stem cell-gene therapy has been shown to be safe in humans, with no serious side effects reported in the first trial. The treatment targets motor neurons that die in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurological disorder.
Researchers discovered an inhibitory neuronal network in the brainstem that generates a synchronous rhythm, retracting mouse whiskers from their protracted positions. The oscillator consists of parvalbumin-expressing vIRt neurons firing bursts only during whisker retraction.
A new study identifies how the suppression of a specific transcription gene triggers changes that impair oligodendrocyte function in Huntington's disease. The researchers believe replacing or fixing defective glia cells may prove a far easier proposition than replenishing neurons lost in the disease.
A new gene therapy approach using the neuroprotective protein SynCav1 has shown promising results in slowing down ALS disease progression and increasing life span in rodent models. The treatment preserved spinal cord motor neurons and extended longevity in mice, with similar effects observed in a rat model of ALS.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong have identified the key mechanism behind roundworms' precise bowel movements, revealing a synchronized nerve impulse between the brain and gut. The study found that the AVL nerve cell in the head regulates the defecation rhythm by relaying and modulating pacemaker signals from the gut.
Daily gabapentin treatment restored fine motor functions in mice's upper extremities and continued to show functional improvements even after treatment was stopped. The drug blocks the activity of a protein that hinders re-growth of axons, enabling post-stroke central nervous system repair to progress in a coordinated way.
Research on experimental drug NU-9 invents by Northwestern University scientists reveals it is more effective than existing FDA-approved drugs for ALS treatment. NU-9 also repairs the axons of diseased upper motor neurons in ALS mouse model, offering a potential new approach to treating the devastating disease.
Researchers have found a possible target for ALS treatment in astrocyte abnormalities. Astrocytes, a subtype of cells in the central nervous system, are involved in motor neuron death, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis. The study offers hope for developing new drugs to block this process.