Lifeboat Foundation

A groundbreaking study using PET scans has revealed that autistic individuals have fewer brain synapses, directly correlating with more pronounced autism traits like social and communication challenges.

This discovery, illustrating clear links between brain structure and behavioral expressions, could revolutionize diagnostic approaches and enhance support mechanisms, potentially leading to more targeted interventions and improved quality of life for those on the autism spectrum.

Synaptic Research in Autism.

Summary: Researchers found that exercise promotes neuron growth through both biochemical signals (myokines) and physical stretching. Muscle cells, when contracted, release myokines that boost neuron growth and maturity. Furthermore, neurons that were “exercised” through mechanical movement grew just as much as those exposed to myokines.

These findings reveal the dual role of exercise in stimulating nerves, offering hope for developing therapies targeting nerve repair and neurodegenerative diseases. This research opens new avenues in treating nerve damage through “exercise as medicine.”

Researchers found that neural crest stem cells are uniquely capable of reprogramming, challenging current reprogramming theories and opening possibilities for stem cell-based treatments.

A research team from the University of Toronto has identified that neural crest stem cells, a group of cells found in the skin and other parts of the body, are the origin of reprogrammed neurons previously found by other scientists.

Their findings refute the popular theory in cellular reprogramming that any developed cell can be induced to switch its identity to a completely unrelated cell type through the infusion of transcription factors. The team proposes an alternative theory: there is one rare stem cell type that is unique in its ability to be reprogrammed into different types of cells.

It is the first time that synaptic density has been measured in living people with autism.

Furthermore, the research team found that the fewer synapses an individual had, the more features of autism they exhibited.

The findings appear in Molecular Psychiatry.

Continue reading “Brain difference tied to autism found in living people for 1st time” »

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation offers rapid depression relief for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments.

Accelerated over just five days, this therapy targets key brain areas to adjust imbalances linked to depression, demonstrating significant effectiveness.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat depression.

Summary: Scientists have successfully reprogrammed astroglia, a type of brain support cell, into neurons that mimic specific interneurons critical for brain function. By modifying the Ascl1 protein, they increased its efficiency in converting astroglia to neuron-like cells, opening new possibilities for regenerative treatments for brain disorders such as epilepsy.

The engineered neurons exhibit high-frequency firing, a signature of certain interneurons essential for regulating brain activity. This work suggests astroglia could serve as a repair mechanism, allowing us to restore lost or damaged brain circuits.

MIT researchers developed tiny wearable devices for cells that can snugly enfold neurons and neuronal processes without damaging the cell. These thin-film wearables, made from a soft polymer, could enable scientists to measure and modulate neurons at a subcellular level.

The brain is a marvel of efficiency, honed by thousands of years of evolution so it can adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Yet, despite decades of research, the mystery of how the brain achieves this has remained elusive.

Our new research, published in the journal Cell, reveals how neurons – the cells responsible for your childhood memories, thoughts and emotions – coordinate their activity.

Continue reading “The Mystery of How Neurons Control The Brain Has Finally Been Solved” »

Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG) in Barcelona have developed the first comprehensive blueprint of the human spliceosome, the most complex and intricate molecular machine found in every cell. This groundbreaking achievement, over a decade in the making, was published in the journal Science.

The spliceosome edits genetic messages transcribed from DNA, allowing cells to create different versions of a protein from a single gene. The vast majority of human genes – more than nine in ten – are edited by the spliceosome. Errors in the process are linked to a wide spectrum of diseases including most types of cancer, neurodegenerative conditions, and genetic disorders.

The sheer number of components involved and the intricacy of its function has meant the spliceosome has remained elusive and uncharted territory in human biology – until now.