Articles tagged with Myelin Sheath
A new study presents a non-invasive test using optic nerve ultrasound to measure sheath thickness, which can help identify acute stroke patients at high risk of dying within days or months. The findings suggest that larger nerve sheath measurements are associated with increased death risk and disability six months later.
Researchers have made breakthrough discoveries in understanding Pelizaeus Merzbacher disease (PMD), a devastating neurological condition. The study found that myelin-producing cells are still active and can be stimulated to produce more myelin, potentially leading to new treatments for PMD and multiple sclerosis patients.
Researchers identified a gene called Gpr56 that regulates nerve cell insulation in the central nervous system. Without proper insulation, nerve cells can't transmit signals efficiently, leading to diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that human brains have a higher rate of oligodendrocyte maintenance and can modulate myelin production, enabling faster adaptation and learning. This finding has significant implications for understanding neurological diseases such as MS.
A study found that heavy drinking in adolescence can lead to structural changes in the brain and memory deficits that persist into adulthood. Rats given daily access to alcohol during adolescence had reduced myelin levels and performed worse on a memory test later in life.
Researchers found that adolescent binge drinking causes lasting damage to the prefrontal cortex's myelin sheaths, leading to impaired cognitive and behavioral control. This can lead to increased risk of alcoholism in adulthood and related psychiatric conditions.
Researchers at UCL discovered that new myelin must be made each time a skill is learned later in life, and its structure changes during practice. The team found that once a new skill has been learnt, it is retained even after myelin production stops.
Researchers discovered that disrupting a tumor suppressor gene disrupts the formation of the protective insulating sheath on peripheral nerves, leading to muscle wasting and neuropathy. The study suggests that normal molecular function of Lkb1 is essential for proper myelination.
Researchers found that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) lose myelin in their gray matter, a characteristic of the disease that affects brain function. The study's findings suggest that gray matter demyelination is strongly related to MS disability and have important implications for treatment monitoring and clinical trials.
Researchers have found that the growth factor neuregulin-1 can restore balance to impaired Schwann cells in genetically modified rats with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. This imbalance leads to insufficient myelination and nerve damage, resulting in symptoms such as numbness and weakness.
Recent studies have shown that microglia-conditioned culture medium supports OPCs' survival and enhances their differentiation. The role of microglia in remyelination is complex and varies depending on the timing of disease progression. Microglia/macrophage activation can lead to poor remyelination in MS plaques lacking microglia.
Scientists from the Salk Institute discovered a protein that promotes nerve regeneration by disrupting a pair of proteins that inhibit growth. The finding could lead to therapies for thousands of Americans with severe spinal cord injuries and paralysis.
Researchers have discovered that preventing abnormalities in the insulating sheath surrounding nerve cells is associated with better function following neurotrauma. Treatment strategies, including calcium channel inhibitors and red/near-infrared irradiation therapy, can preserve myelin and prevent long-term loss of function.
A new study by Harvard neuroscientists reveals that myelin, the electrical insulating material in nerve cells, is not uniformly distributed along axons. Instead, more evolved neurons in the cerebral cortex have intermittent myelin patterns, which may enable increased neuronal communication and complex behavior.
The study used atomic force microscopy and surface forces apparatus to measure the strength of adhesion between healthy and diseased myelin bilayers. Researchers found that healthy myelin adsorbs proteins better, maintaining optimal insulation and nerve function.
A three-year study published in Neuroscience reveals how loud sound damage affects myelin, the protective sheet around cells, and its correlation to auditory signals failing to transmit during hearing loss. Understanding this link can help develop strategies to prevent or alleviate deafness or tinnitus symptoms.
A new MRI approach called quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) has been validated for measuring Multiple Sclerosis (MS) progression. QSM provides a quantitative way to measure myelin content and iron deposition in the brain, which are important factors in MS physiology. The study demonstrated that using the correct model can separ...
Researchers found that MSCs from MS patients exhibit higher senescence and decreased expression of immune system markers, suggesting a potential problem with autologous stem cell transplants. Allogenic bone marrow stem cells may be a preferable treatment option to maximize their therapeutic potential.
A team at Gladstone Institutes has developed a molecular sensor that can detect the earliest signs of multiple sclerosis, including heightened thrombin activity in the brain. This breakthrough could lead to early diagnosis and treatment options, shedding light on the underlying molecular processes that drive the disease.
A recent study published in Neural Regeneration Research found that propofol can inhibit damage caused by proinflammatory cytokines and exert protective effects on the central nervous system. The experimental findings indicate that propofol promotes regeneration following sciatic nerve injury by reducing inflammation and apoptosis.
Researchers found that brain asymmetry remains constant over time, despite expectations of increased myelin development in left hemisphere regions. The study highlights the importance of environment during critical periods for language acquisition.
Researchers have developed a novel molecular probe detectable by PET imaging, providing the first non-invasive visualization of myelin integrity in the entire spinal cord. The discovery brings new hope for accurate diagnosis and prognosis, allowing clinicians to monitor disease progression and evaluate therapy efficacy.
An animal study shows that sleep increases the reproduction of oligodendrocytes, which form myelin in the brain and spinal cord, doubling their numbers during rapid eye movement sleep. This could lead to new insights into the role of sleep in brain repair and growth.
Researchers at UC Davis have successfully generated oligodendrocytes with spiking properties, allowing them to produce myelin and mature into functional brain cells. The enhanced cells showed superior regenerative capacity and produced thicker, longer myelin sheaths than natural cells.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience has identified a compound called activin-A that helps trigger the regeneration of protective sheaths around nerve fibers in the brain. This finding could lead to new drug targets for enhancing myelin regeneration and restoring lost function in patients with multiple sclerosis.
Researchers discovered that individual oligodendrocytes can coat neurons with myelin for only five hours after birth. This finding could lead to new treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis, including targeting the blockages that prevent cells from producing myelin.
Researchers developed a new MRI technique that analyzes electro-magnetic waves for detecting multiple sclerosis changes in fine detail. This method provides a more powerful tool for evaluating new treatments and could lead to smaller studies.
A phase 1 clinical trial shows a new treatment safely reduces immune system reactivity to myelin in multiple sclerosis patients by 50-75%. The therapy, which uses specially processed white blood cells, preserves the function of the normal immune system. Researchers hope to launch a phase 2 trial to prevent MS progression.
Researchers at UB's Hunter James Kelly Research Institute have found that reducing a protein called Gadd34 can improve nerve and muscle function in patients with CMT neuropathies. By leaving protein synthesis partially off, they were able to restore myelination, potentially leading to new treatments for other misfolded protein diseases.
Researchers at CWRU School of Medicine discover a technique to directly convert skin cells into myelinating brain cells, potentially treating multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy. The new method enables rapid production of functional oligodendrocytes, which provide insulation for neurons.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that oligodendrocytes play a significant role in the early stage of ALS, with changes occurring long before physical symptoms appear. Suppressing an ALS-causing gene in oligodendrocytes delays disease onset and prolongs survival.
Scientists at OU, Japan, Germany, US, Canada, and Great Britain collaborate to sequence the sea lamprey genome, providing insights into vertebrate evolution and character traits. The study reveals two whole-genome duplication rounds in vertebrates, shedding light on the origins of myelin and paired appendages.
Researchers successfully created human brain cells from skin cells, which are highly effective in treating myelin disorders such as multiple sclerosis. The study opens the door to potential new treatments using these cells for neurological diseases characterized by the loss of myelin.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine found that peripheral glial cells produce neuregulin1 to support nerve repair and myelin regeneration. Neuregulin1 is essential for the maturation of Schwann cells and the regeneration of damaged nerves.
Researchers discovered that Tip-dendritic cells activate naive CD8+ T cells to recognize myelin protein, leading to autoimmune reactivity. This finding sheds light on the complex role of CD8+ T cells in multiple sclerosis pathology.
Researchers developed an oral drug that improved limb movement and preserved myelin-surfacing cells in mice after a spinal cord injury. The compound efficiently crossed the blood-brain barrier and showed no toxic effects, with the highest dose demonstrating significant improvements in motor function.
A study published in Nature Neuroscience reveals that social isolation can reduce myelin production in mice, affecting the formation of new oligodendrocytes and leading to behavioral changes. Reintroduction into a social group reverses these effects, suggesting environmental factors play a crucial role in maintaining healthy nerve cells.
Researchers discovered a molecule called sncRNA715 that suppresses myelin basic protein synthesis, crucial for myelin formation. This finding may help explain myelination failures in neurological illnesses like multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have developed a novel treatment that selectively inhibits the part of the immune system responsible for attacking myelin, reducing inflammation in autoimmune disorders like MS. The therapy uses microscopic particles to induce tolerance in animal models, showing potential for treating MS, type I diabetes, and food allergies.
Research shows socially isolated animals produce less myelin in the prefrontal cortex, a region responsible for emotional and cognitive behavior. The study also found that social isolation disrupts oligodendrocyte cell development, leading to changes in gene transcription.
Scientists at the University of Edinburgh have proved a 60-year-old theory about how nerve signals are sent around the body at varying speeds. The study found that longer distances between gaps in myelin lead to faster signal transmission, providing insight into nerve damage and development.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have demonstrated that banked human neural stem cells can survive and make functional myelin in mice with severe symptoms of myelin loss. The study provides proof of principle for treating a wide variety of disorders that affect myelin, including cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.
Research reveals human brains develop myelin insulation at a slower rate than chimpanzees, leading to delayed cognitive maturity and increased vulnerability to psychiatric disorders. This difference may play a key role in human-specific cognitive abilities.
A study published in Journal of Neuroimmunology suggests that B cells, a type of immune cell, produce toxic substances that damage myelin and contribute to the progression of multiple sclerosis. Researchers hope to identify these substances to develop targeted therapies for MS treatment.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine discovered that glial cells pass on metabolites to neurons, enabling them to generate energy. The study found that oligodendrocytes can replenish energy in nerve fibers through glycolysis, reducing oxidative stress and cell damage.
A new study published in Science Translational Medicine suggests that an anti-inflammatory drug delivered via a nanodevice can improve CP symptoms in animal models. The findings indicate a window of opportunity for postnatal treatment to prevent the condition, with potential implications for future treatments of neurological disorders.
Researchers refuted the neurodegenerative hypothesis, which suggested myelin damage occurred without an immune system attack. The study found that immune defense played a role in triggering MS-like autoimmune disease.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a gene therapy that stimulates the production of new oligodendrocytes from stem cells, enabling the brain to replace damaged myelin sheaths in demyelinating diseases like MS. The therapy uses leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to promote remyelination and reduce inflammation.
A study published in Cell Stem Cell highlights the possibility of reversing ageing in the central nervous system for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The age-associated decline of remyelination, a regenerative process, can be reversed using inflammatory cells from young mice.
A study published in Cell Stem Cell found that defects in myelin sheath regeneration surrounding nerves can be at least partially corrected following exposure to young immune cells. This suggests that regenerative therapies may work throughout the duration of MS, regardless of age. The findings provide new hope for treating this disease.
Scientists at the University of Rochester Medical Center have improved upon their previous efforts to isolate stem cells for treating multiple sclerosis and rare childhood diseases. The new method resulted in a four-fold increase in myelin coating, making these cells promising candidates for future clinical trials.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have successfully guided mouse stem cells into oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, which can restore myelin on nerves. This breakthrough opens up new avenues for basic research and potential therapies for multiple sclerosis and other demyelinating diseases.
A new imaging technique allows researchers to assess nerve damage and healing in live patients, providing a non-invasive method for diagnosing nerve injuries. The technique uses lasers to create images of individual neurons' insulating sheaths, revealing the extent of myelin loss and recovery.
Researchers at WashU Medicine have developed a new technique to rapidly access brain landmarks, enabling better brain maps and insights into how the healthy brain works. The technique speeds up long-distance signaling by mapping myelination levels, shedding light on brain evolution and function.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a cell-culture system that mimics the coating of nerve cells with protective myelin, opening up new possibilities for studying multiple sclerosis. The study found that myelin regulates key protein placement and activity in sending electrical signals along hippocampal axons.
A Rush University Medical Center scientist is studying cinnamon's effects on multiple sclerosis, a disease that attacks the central nervous system. The research aims to understand how cinnamon's anti-inflammatory property may counteract the disease process in mice.
Computer science researchers at Brown University have developed a new way to visualize the human brain's neural connections using 2D maps. These simplified representations can help medical professionals identify potential pathologies, such as autism, and understand how neural bundles differ among individuals.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara developed a new method of nanoscopic imaging that could lead to early detection and diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The study focused on the myelin sheath, a membrane surrounding nerves compromised in MS patients.
Researchers have created a new X-ray method called SAXS-CT to map the myelin sheaths of nerve cells in detail. This can provide insights into neurodegenerative diseases such as cerebral malaria, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown type of axonal degeneration called focal axonal degeneration (FAD), which is responsible for damage to nerve cells in multiple sclerosis. FAD can be reversed if recognized and treated early, suggesting a potential target for therapeutic intervention.