Articles tagged with Neurons
Scientists identify a common mechanism in two forms of neurodegeneration affecting young adults and the elderly, linked to progranulin protein mutations. The discovery advances efforts to find better treatments and cures for these diseases, including frontotemporal dementia and neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis.
Researchers have determined that fluorescent granular perithelial cells, which protect the brain against diseases, arise from endothelial cells in the circulatory system. This finding may contribute to understanding cognitive decline of aging and HIV infection of brain cells.
Scientists have discovered that specific cells in the brain's medial amygdala program innate reproductive and aggressive behaviors. The study found that male and female brains respond differently to mating cues, with distinct patterns of activation in neurons expressing different transcription factors.
Researchers at Columbia University found that haphazard neural activity in mice with schizophrenia symptoms may underlie the disease. The study suggests that disruptions in small networks of neurons could produce characteristic psychosis symptoms.
As people age, they experience a decline in deep sleep, which is crucial for memory and cognition. This shift can start as early as the mid-thirties and becomes more pronounced with age.
Researchers at Oregon State University have discovered a new function for rapamycin that may help prevent neurologic damage and some related diseases. The compound appears to stop cellular senescence, a stage cells reach where they get old and start secreting damaging substances.
A study by Stanford researchers identifies a near-global repressor protein, Myt1l, that works to block many cell fates but one. This discovery suggests the possibility of a network of master regulators specific to each cell type.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered a new brain pathway that controls hand movements, contradicting the long-held belief that motor functions originate from the frontal lobe. This finding has implications for understanding hand movement and may lead to better treatments for patients with motor function disorders.
Researchers developed a novel technique to eliminate specific peripheral neurons without affecting the brain, revealing their crucial role in maintaining normal adiposity. The study showed that mice lacking these neurons became fat quickly, opening new avenues for understanding diseases related to the peripheral nervous system.
Researchers found that a transient increase in intracellular calcium ions causes cell deformation and contributes to neural tube formation in African clawed frogs. The pattern of fluctuation in calcium ions is complex, with local and transient rises causing morphological changes.
Researchers found that friction between moving tissues generates force that shapes the nervous system of zebrafish embryos. This force is a key mechanism for regulating morphogenesis during embryo development. The study's findings indicate a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying birth defects in humans.
Researchers at Emory University are studying the 3q29 deletion syndrome, a genetic mutation associated with a 40-fold increased risk for schizophrenia. They will create a neuronal model of the syndrome using induced pluripotent stem cells and integrate their research with other targets identified in genetic studies.
Scientists have developed a new technique to produce human brain and muscle cells in just a few days, allowing for the creation of millions of functional cells. This breakthrough method, OPTi-OX, enables researchers to study diseases such as Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis at unprecedented purities.
Researchers found a circuit in the central amygdala that responds to rewarding events and stimulates reward-related behavior, contradicting the consensus that the structure is primarily linked with fear.
Researchers identified neurons in the amygdala that promote reward-related behaviors and suppress fear responses, finding that appetitive behaviors are driven by the same circuitry as defensive behaviors. The study reveals a push-pull mechanism in the brain regulating emotional states and behaviors.
Researchers observe how large groups of neurons learn and unlearn a new association in the brain, blurring lines between stimuli. The findings have implications for studying emotional memory disorders like PTSD.
A team of scientists from Caltech has found that lamprey gut neurons originate from cells called Schwann cell precursors, challenging the long-held theory that these cells give rise to vagal neural crest cells. This discovery offers insights into the evolutionary origins of vertebrates and their digestive systems.
Scientists at the Salk Institute have developed a new method to predict which individuals with bipolar disorder will respond to lithium therapy. Using a system trained on electrical firing patterns of neurons from six patients, the method achieved 92% accuracy in classifying responders and nonresponders.
The study found that distortion of radial glial fibers leads to aberrant neuron localization and formation of periventricular nodular heterotopia (PNH), a brain abnormality in thanatophoric dysplasia. This discovery paves the way for developing therapy using animal models with brain architecture similar to humans.
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine found that electroacupuncture triggers the release of reparative mesenchymal stem cells, which promote tendon repair and anti-inflammatory cell activity. The study's findings suggest a new approach to treating pain and injuries by harnessing the healing properties of stem cells.
A University at Buffalo research team has successfully reprogrammed adult skin cells into neural crest cells, a type of stem cell, without adding foreign genetic material. These cells can differentiate into various cell types found in the spinal cord and brain, holding promise for studying genetic diseases and generating regenerative t...
A team of scientists at the University of California San Diego has created a cellular model of anorexia nervosa using induced pluripotent stem cells, revealing a potential genetic link to the disease. The study identified a novel gene, TACR1, that may contribute to the development of eating disorders.
Researchers have characterized cerebral organoids, showing they recapitulate human brain developmental processes and involve forebrain organizing centers. These findings advance our understanding of normal organoid development and are essential for modeling human developmental diseases.
A specific protein forms gels in response to stress, which helps cells function and grow under challenging conditions. This gel-like structure is not a sign of damage but rather an adaptive response.
Researchers at Duke University identified a mechanism linking 'jumping genes' to brain cell death in Alzheimer's, potentially leading to new treatments. The study suggests that Alu elements, normally held in check by DNA methylation patterns, can disrupt mitochondrial function and contribute to neurodegeneration.
Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center have discovered a bone-derived hormone that regulates food intake and blood sugar. The study found that the hormone, lipocalin 2, turns on brain neurons involved in appetite suppression, potentially leading to new targeted therapies for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Researchers found that fruit fly infections trigger a reduction in egg-laying activity and affect the octopaminergic signalling pathway. The study reveals a protective mechanism allowing fruit flies to regulate their offspring's impact on the environment during bacterial infection.
Researchers used systems biology approaches to study the emergence of life and found that a few simple compounds could support a phosphate-free metabolism. This discovery challenges the current understanding of life's origin and suggests that an early self-sustaining metabolic network predated the emergence of nucleic acids.
Scientists found that cell powerhouses called mitochondria can break down misfolded proteins, which are thought to contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. This discovery could help explain why protein clumping and mitochondrial deterioration are hallmarks of these conditions.
Researchers found Zika virus alters host cell cytoskeletal architecture to build replication factories, potentially targeting with existing chemotherapy drugs. This study suggests a new approach to treating Zika-related disorders like microcephaly and neurodegenerative diseases.
Scientists from Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry are investigating a potential new drug therapy for dementia diseases. They aim to understand how impaired autophagy, or cellular recycling, contributes to neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.
A new study from the University of Utah School of Medicine shows that brain cells often activate one copy of a gene over the other's, breaking basic genetic principles. This finding suggests new ways in which genetic mutations might cause brain disorders, including mental illness and intellectual disability.
Research reveals that individual neurons or specific types of neurons can silence genes from one parent or the other, particularly during brain development. As the brain matures, these differences tend to decrease, but some genes continue to exhibit differential expression in adult brains.
A new study suggests that a fasting-mimicking diet can reprogram pancreas cells in diabetic mice, enabling them to produce insulin and repair themselves. The researchers found that the diet triggered developmental reprogramming in the pancreas, rebuilding damaged areas and restoring function.
Researchers have discovered neural circuits regulating sleep/wake cycles, providing new targets for therapies. The brain's complexity remains a major medical mystery, with ongoing research aiming to develop drugs that mimic orexin to wake people up and address metabolic disease and mood disorders.
In a groundbreaking study, UNC School of Medicine scientists have uncovered the brain circuitry behind reward-seeking behavior, revealing two distinct populations of prefrontal neurons that promote or suppress motivation. The research has major implications for understanding addiction, depression, and other neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers found that itch and mild pain signals can be transmitted through the same spinal cord neurons, with GRP neurons acting as a 'braking system' to mitigate intense pain. In mice without these neurons, pain responses were increased and scratching behaviors were altered.
Cedars-Sinai neuroscientists have uncovered the human brain's processes involved in creating and maintaining short-term memories. The study found that persistently active neurons in the medial frontal lobe and medial temporal lobe are critical for memorization, with activity levels correlating to memory recall.
Research suggests that stimulating GLP-1-producing neurons in the brain can control appetite and glucose levels. The study found that this stimulation reduced food intake and suppressed glucose generation in lean mice, but had no effect on obese mice.
Researchers at UTMB have discovered that the Asian lineage of the Zika virus halts brain stem cell proliferation and hinders their ability to develop into brain nerve cells. This finding provides insight into the mechanisms behind Zika-induced microcephaly, a serious birth defect characterized by small brain and head development.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have discovered a genetic 'switch' called ATF4 that plays a key role in Parkinson's disease. By targeting this gene, they hope to develop tailored interventions that can prevent or delay neuronal loss.
Researchers found that vitamin B3 administration eliminated age-related molecular changes and provided robust protection against glaucoma. The treatment boosted metabolic reliability of aging retinal ganglion cells, keeping them healthier for longer.
A new study published in Cell Metabolism found that changes in the size of mitochondria in a small subset of brain cells play a crucial role in maintaining safe blood sugar levels. The researchers discovered that these mitochondrial changes are critical for activating counter-regulatory responses to hypoglycemia, which can help prevent...
Engineers at the University of Texas at Austin created ultra-flexible brain probes that achieve more reliable long-term neural recording without causing scar formation. The probes' mechanical compliances mimic brain tissue and enable reliable recording of individual neurons for extended periods.
Scientists have identified specific groups of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex that develop codes to store relevant information from multiple experiences. Over time, these neurons lose less important details unique to each experience. The findings provide new insight into how the brain collects and stores useful knowledge.
A research team discovered that Tdp-43 cryptic exons are highly variable between cell types, potentially leading to early diagnosis and therapeutic agents for neurological diseases. This finding may elucidate the causes of Frontotemporal Dementia and Lou Gehrig's Disease.
Researchers tracked lens epithelial cells in live zebrafish using genetically engineered fluorescent proteins to determine factors responsible for regulating eye development. The study reveals a complex interplay between E-cadherin and N-cadherin proteins controlling cell movement and adhesion.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara found that low-intensity exercise increases activation in the visual cortex, enhancing information representation and selectivity. This effect is linked to increased arousal, which may provide a competitive advantage.
Recent studies found that tumors exploit neuronal signals to grow and thrive. Researchers aim to develop targeted therapies by interrupting specific molecular pathways co-opted by tumor cells. This growing understanding sheds light on cancer pathology observations.
Researchers at Rutgers University found that neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's may be linked to defective brain cells that dispose of toxic proteins, causing harm to neighboring neurons. The study uses transparent roundworms to understand the process of eliminating toxic cellular substances, revealing a potent...
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center identified an ion channel, TrpC5, essential for the brain's response to leptin and lorcaserin, two hormones and medications used to suppress appetite and reduce body weight. In mice deficient in TrpC5, these hormones were ineffective, leading to increased body weight and disrupted metabolism.
Scientists have developed mini-brains that can grow blood vessels, enabling the study of neurological diseases such as stroke and concussion. The presence of vasculature makes these mini-brains more realistic models of natural brains, allowing researchers to investigate the interaction between the brain and its circulatory system.
Researchers have discovered a new epigenetic marker, pS10H3, that regulates pain processing in the spinal cord. Blocking this marker may lead to new pain relief therapies for burn victims.
Researchers discovered that abnormality with gatekeeper cells, which surround blood vessels in the brain, leads to neuron deterioration and possible influence on Alzheimer's disease. Pericyte degeneration restricts blood flow and oxygen supply to active areas of the brain.
Researchers have discovered that stem cell secretions, called exosomes, can promote survival of retinal ganglion cells in rats, which could lead to potential therapies for glaucoma. The study found that exosome-treated retinal ganglion cells maintained function and lost fewer cells after optic nerve injury.
Researchers discovered LSD binds at an angle, trapping it in the receptor, and part of the protein folds over, sealing it inside. This explains why LSD trips last for a full day despite small doses.
Researchers have shed light on the relationship between misfolded alpha-synuclein protein and Parkinson's disease, identifying key genes and cellular processes involved. The study provides new insights into the underlying mechanisms of synucleinopathies, paving the way for developing patient-specific treatments.
Researchers found two types of face cells that respond differently to human and non-human faces. The study's findings suggest that the brain processes faces based on attention focus, not just visual presence. This discovery may lead to a better understanding of social cognitive defects like autism.
Researchers at Lund University successfully incorporated transplanted neurons into a stroke-injured rat brain, showing they formed normal connections with the host brain. The study used human skin cells reprogrammed to become healthy neurons and demonstrated functionality in response to touch.
Researchers have found that Zika virus alters the expression of hundreds of genes responsible for guiding brain cell formation, leading to microcephaly. The study reveals new therapeutic targets by analyzing molecular interactions in infected brain cells.