Neurogenomics – News and Features

A review from UC Irvine explores the effects of early-life adversity on brain development, emphasizing how unpredictable stress impacts long-term outcomes. The research identifies key molecular mediators.

Scientists developed a promising gene replacement therapy for Dravet syndrome in mice. The therapy alleviated symptoms without toxicity or side effects, marking a significant step forward in treating this rare form of epilepsy.

Researchers find that tumor stem cells became less able to proliferate and invade tissues when gene editing blocked the production of the prion protein; the results suggest that the molecule could be a therapeutic target.

A new study reveals that IL-12, an inflammatory molecule, accelerates Alzheimer’s disease by damaging brain cells and preventing plaque clearance. Blocking IL-12 in mice halted disease-related changes, suggesting a potential new therapy.

Researchers have developed pig retinal organoids to understand how stem cell-derived photoreceptor cells work as a therapeutic.

Research from The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology shows a gene called Syngap1 enables touch-based perception, while certain mutations can lead to mixed signals.

A study from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz found that fruit flies raised at lower temperatures develop more neural connections in their olfactory system. Flies raised at 18°C had twice as many postsynaptic neurons as those at 25°C.

Researchers discovered that inducing a prolonged torpor-like state in mice reduced epigenetic aging by 37%. The study found that lower body temperature, not metabolic rate or calorie intake, was the key factor in slowing aging.

A single dose of psilocin can induce changes in human nerve cells, providing researchers with a better understanding of the mechanisms behind psilocin's effects.

Analyzing donated brains from deceased people with Alzheimer’s disease who received amyloid-beta immunization, researchers found that when these treatments work, the brain’s immune cells help to restore a healthier brain environment.