Mapping brain development at the protein level in unprecedented detail

Researchers at the University of Virginia have created the first comprehensive protein-level atlas of brain development, providing unprecedented insight into how the brain forms and potential implications for understanding neurological disorders. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, analyzed over 24 million individual cells from mouse brains, revealing detailed molecular pathways that guide brain development from early embryonic stages through early postnatal development.

Study of familial ALS in Egypt reveals that genetic variations may contribute to disease progression

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons, leading to muscle weakness and eventually death. While significant strides have been made in understanding ALS genetics, particularly in European populations, there is a gap in knowledge regarding ALS in African populations, including Egypt.

Cholesterol metabolism byproduct linked to Parkinson’s disease

Researchers led by Zhentao Zhang at Wuhan University, China have discovered a cholesterol metabolite that plays a critical role in the development of Parkinson’s disease in mice. Published in the journal PLOS Biology, the study shows that this metabolite is responsible for the formation of Lewy bodies and the death of dopaminergic neurons in the brain—the two major hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease. Blocking its activity or preventing it from being made by the body could therefore be effective strategies for treating the disease.

External factors that could lead to dissociation in young people revealed

Everyday stress, loneliness, and feelings of exclusion or marginalization have been highlighted as the biggest risk factors, along with childhood trauma, for contributing to dissociation in teenagers and young adults, a new study has revealed. The findings challenge traditional perceptions of dissociation and highlight the pressures on young people today.