Neurogenomics – News and Features

A new study finds that RNA editing by ADAR1 in astrocytes contributes to neuroinflammation in Parkinson’s disease. Using patient-derived iPSC models, researchers show how ADAR1 promotes inflammation by focusing on genes involved in immune responses.

Reduced levels of the TDP-43 protein have been linked to brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia and ALS, through its link to the brain's blood vessels.

A study reveals that retinal responses to light in Parkinson’s patients differ from healthy individuals. This could pave the way for a simple, non-invasive method for early Parkinson’s diagnosis, allowing for earlier interventions.

This article explores how synthetic biology is revolutionizing therapeutics through engineered cells, precision genetic circuits and AI-driven design, with applications in cancer treatment, vaccine development and next-generation immunotherapies.

A study on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) reveals that immune cells, specifically macrophages, play a critical role in synaptic pruning. Researchers found that macrophages from individuals with ASD were less effective at clearing synaptic material.

Researchers have mapped non-B DNA motifs in the genomes of great apes, highlighting their potential role in genome evolution, cell processes and genetic diseases. The discovery uses newly sequenced T2T genomes to identify DNA structural variations.

A study from UC San Diego discovered that the PHGDH gene, previously linked to Alzheimer’s as a biomarker, actually plays a causal role. The team identified a moonlighting function of PHGDH that disrupts gene regulation, contributing to Alzheimer’s.

MIT researchers demonstrated that 40Hz sensory stimulation improves cognition, hippocampal activity and neurogenesis in Down syndrome mice. The study, using synchronized light and sound, revealed increased gene expression linked to synapse formation

Mass General Brigham researchers found that immune cells influence brain communication in response to stress, driving fear behaviors. Psychedelic treatments like MDMA and psilocybin reduced fear in preclinical models and human tissue.

By studying mutations in a gene called neurexin-1, which is highly associated with both schizophrenia and autism, researchers have discovered that different types of mutations in the gene require different treatments.