National Institute on Aging (NIA) reposted this
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness, paralysis, and eventually death. By analyzing the genetic makeup of donated brain tissue from people who had #ALS, NINDS-funded researchers have found the culprit behind neuron death—a set of risk genes. High levels of these genes in a unique type of neuron, called the Betz cell, may trigger a chain reaction that leads to widespread neuron and glial cell dysfunction. Because Betz cells are the first to go in ALS, the findings may inform new treatment strategies to slow and even stop ALS progression. https://go.nih.gov/qrpIXjo
Great human-relevant research on human tissue! We need more of this and move away from animal testing.
Neuroscientist ★ Drug Discoverer ★ Oligodendrocyte Expert ★ Replacing the Amyloid Hypothesis
3wBeware neuroncentricity National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). It is not difficult to understand how temporally upstream oligodendrocyte injury triggers upper motor neuron hyperexcitability, which eventually leads to lower motor neuron excitotoxicity in #ALS; https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisbarryoligoexpert_als-drugdiscovery-neurodegeneration-activity-7211695431599222784-omAK?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop. A closer reading of the 21 June 2024 NATURE Aging paper being highlighted in this post is in order! https://www.linkedin.com/posts/chrisbarryoligoexpert_scientists-identify-genes-linked-to-brain-activity-7210219554084433920-KAKX?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Christine S. #neurodegeneration #drugdiscovery #drugdevelopment As esteemed Johns Hopkins' professor Dwight Bergles noted in 2013 in commenting on the NATURE Neuroscience paper "Degeneration and impaired regeneration of gray matter oligodendrocytes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23542689/ he co-authored, "The motor neurons seem to be dependent on healthy oligodendrocytes for survival, something we didn't appreciate before."