Myelin News and Research

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Myelin is the fatty substance that covers and protects nerves.

Stem cell study identifies unique glial contributions to multiple sclerosis

A team of scientists from The New York Stem Cell Foundation (NYSCF) Research Institute and Case Western Reserve University has created the largest reported collection of stem cell models from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and used them to identify unique ways in which glia – integral support cells in the brain – contribute to the disease.

26 Aug 2024

Beyond neurons: Glial cells identified as key players in Alzheimer's disease

Memory loss, confusion, speech problems – Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting about 35 million people worldwide, and the number is growing.

12 Aug 2024

New histone tag discovery offers hope for myelin repair in neurodegenerative diseases

In a groundbreaking study, researchers with the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center (CUNY ASRC) have identified a distinct histone tag in adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) that may pave the way for innovative therapies targeting myelin repair, a critical target for several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and schizophrenia.

12 Aug 2024

Study uncovers roles of certain brain cells in Alzheimer's plaque formation

A study in Nature Neuroscience found that both neurons and oligodendrocytes contribute to amyloid-β plaque burden in Alzheimer's disease, highlighting new therapeutic targets.

7 Aug 2024

Omega-3 fatty acids show potential in protecting brain health in older adults

Researchers assess the role of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in reducing white matter lesion accumulation and neuronal integrity degeneration.

6 Aug 2024

Breakthrough MS drug uses green mamba venom discovery to promote myelin repair

Ten years of work, and a little help from the green mamba snake, has resulted in a promising new drug that is already being tested in clinical trials.

5 Aug 2024

MS Australia unveils new grants to revolutionize multiple sclerosis diagnosis and care

MS Australia has announced new research funding to address disease progression, social needs, and biological signs of MS through three innovative incubator grants. These grants aim to improve diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing fresh ideas to meet unmet needs in MS care.

30 Jul 2024

Researchers identify a potential therapeutic target for advanced multiple sclerosis

Researchers from Kyushu University have identified a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of advanced multiple sclerosis (MS), a potentially disabling condition associated with the central nervous system.

25 Jul 2024

Oligodendrocytes identified as key amyloid β producers in Alzheimer's disease

Researchers discovered that oligodendrocytes, not just neurons, produce amyloid β in Alzheimer's disease, and suppressing their activity improves disease pathology. This finding suggests new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's treatment.

24 Jul 2024

Research reveals optimal magnesium levels could lower dementia risk

Researchers found moderate evidence of a U-shaped link between serum magnesium levels and dementia, but more studies are needed to clarify magnesium's role in cognitive health.

15 Jul 2024

World’s first map of human brain lipids created

Scientists have found that 93% of the lipids in brain tissue are distributed differently in the white and gray matter, the subcortex, the visual and motor cortices, and the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, social behavior, and other functions.

10 Jul 2024

Innovative study on gut bacteria and T cells wins NOSTER & Science Microbiome Prize

In the gut, dozens of strains of bacteria exert different effects on the immune system that in turn impact our health – fending off pathogens, helping digest food and maybe even influencing behavior. But pinpointing which bacteria exert which effects has been challenging.

4 Jul 2024

How Epstein-Barr virus shapes immune responses in multiple sclerosis

Study found that EBV-specific immune responses in MS patients showed higher IgG titers and cell-mediated reactions to EBV antigens compared to healthy controls, suggesting a complex role of EBV in MS development.

9 Jun 2024

Curcumin nanoparticles show promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases

Review demonstrates curcumin's neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases, enhancing its potential through innovative nanoparticle formulations. This advancement could significantly improve treatments for diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Multiple Sclerosis.

6 Jun 2024

Stanford study reveals link between adaptive myelination and drug addiction

Our brains, even in adulthood, continually adapt to what we do, strengthening or weakening neural pathways as we practice new skills or abandon old habits.

5 Jun 2024

Unraveling the mechanisms of PMP22 duplication in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a group of heritable disorders that affect the peripheral nerves, is marked by specific genetic changes.

4 Jun 2024

Understanding the link between EBV-infected B cells and multiple sclerosis

The Wistar Institute's Paul M. Lieberman, Ph.D., and lab team led by senior staff scientist and first author, Samantha Soldan, Ph.D., have demonstrated how B cells infected with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can contribute to a pathogenic, inflammatory phenotype that contributes to multiple sclerosis (MS); the group has also shown how these problematic B cells can be selectively targeted in a way that reduces the damaging autoimmune response of multiple sclerosis.

28 May 2024