Myelin News and Research

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Myelin is the fatty substance that covers and protects nerves.

Why metformin could protect the brain by rewiring mitochondria

Metformin boosts human oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination across stem-cell, organoid, and chimera models. The study links these effects to mitochondrial metabolic shifts, supporting its potential as a therapy for multiple sclerosis.

1 Sep 2025

Cancer-related nerve injury triggers inflammation and immunotherapy resistance

Cancer cells can break down the protective covers around nerves, causing nerve injury that triggers chronic inflammation leading to immune exhaustion and eventual resistance to immunotherapy, according to new research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

1 Sep 2025

Unlocking neuroglia’s potential to halt neurodegeneration and restore brain homeostasis

In a revealing Genomic Press Interview published today in Brain Medicine, Professor Alexei Verkhratsky dismantles decades of neuroscience orthodoxy with discoveries that position neuroglia as active architects of brain function rather than passive cellular bystanders.

26 Aug 2025

Scientists discover molecular brake that halts brain cell repair in multiple sclerosis

A team of scientists led by the Institute for Glial Sciences (IGS) at Case Western Reserve University's School of Medicine has discovered a built-in "brake" that controls when key brain cells mature.

25 Aug 2025

New study uncovers a surprising mechanism of resistance to immunotherapy

A new international study led by researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, the Karolinska Institutet and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has uncovered a surprising mechanism of resistance to immunotherapy: cancer's ability to injure nearby nerves.

21 Aug 2025

Cancer cells break down nerve covers causing immune exhaustion and therapy resistance

20 Aug 2025

GIPR signaling opens brain’s gate for GLP-1 weight-loss therapy

A Cell Metabolism study reveals that GIPR signaling in oligodendrocytes enhances brain access and weight-loss efficacy of GLP-1R agonists by increasing vascular permeability and targeting appetite-regulating neurons. This mechanism may explain why GIPR/GLP-1R co-agonists outperform single-agent therapies.

14 Aug 2025

New insights into how keto diet can restore cognitive function following status epilepticus

Epilepsy affects over 70 million people worldwide, and a significant portion of patients suffer from drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), where standard medications fail.

11 Aug 2025

Brain aging may be slower and more layered than previously thought

The human brain ages less than thought and in layers – at least in the area of the cerebral cortex responsible for the sense of touch.

11 Aug 2025

Lithium deficiency emerges as a hidden driver of Alzheimer’s

What is the earliest spark that ignites the memory-robbing march of Alzheimer’s disease? Why do some people with Alzheimer’s-like changes in the brain never go on to develop dementia? These questions have bedeviled neuroscientists for decades.

8 Aug 2025

Scientists link brain lithium loss to early Alzheimer’s changes

Researchers have discovered that naturally occurring lithium in the brain is depleted early in Alzheimer’s disease, especially in the prefrontal cortex, and that restoring physiological levels with lithium orotate in mice can prevent brain damage and memory loss. The findings suggest lithium deficiency may be a modifiable risk factor for Alzheimer’s.

7 Aug 2025

Gut mycobiota could help predict disability in multiple sclerosis

Gut fungal communities may impact multiple sclerosis severity, offering new insights into MS pathogenesis and potential microbiome-based treatment strategies.

29 Jul 2025

Neural stem cell grafts show promise for myelin repair in multiple sclerosis

A study led by Cambridge researchers has shed light on how neural stem cell grafts could help restore myelin in the central nervous system.

7 Jul 2025

Mitochondrial dysfunction drives cerebellar damage in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects an estimated 2.3 million people worldwide. Approximately 80% of people with MS have inflammation in the cerebellum, the part of the brain that helps control movement and balance, potentially leading to tremors, poor coordination, and trouble with motor control.

16 Jun 2025

Longer breastfeeding boosts brain growth and thinking skills in teens, study shows

Longer breastfeeding duration is associated with greater cortical thickness, surface area, and improved fluid cognition in adolescents. These brain structures and cognitive benefits remain stable over two years and support current recommendations for extended breastfeeding.

20 May 2025

Scientists discover how EBV-infected immune cells migrate and invade the brain

Many people are infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and most are unaware of it. However, EBV can sometimes cause cancer, and this pathogen also appears to play an important role in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases.

19 May 2025

CAR-T cell therapy linked to brain fog in cancer patients

After treatment with CAR-T cells - immune cells engineered to attack cancer - patients sometimes tell their doctors they feel like they have "brain fog," or forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

12 May 2025

Discovery sheds light on protein's role in myelin formation and schizophrenia

Research published in the Journal of Neurochemistry has detailed the role of a protein, hnRNP A1, in the formation and stability of myelin, suggesting an important impact on neurodegenerative diseases and mental disorders such as multiple sclerosis and schizophrenia.

17 Apr 2025

Marathon running alters brain myelin for energy use

According to a study published by Nature Metabolism, marathon runners experience reversible changes in their brain myelin.

8 Apr 2025

Researchers uncover mechanism linking maternal inflammation to delayed neurodevelopment in infants

A research group led by Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan has uncovered a potential mechanism linking maternal inflammation to delayed neurodevelopment in infants.

1 Apr 2025