Brain cell map reveals insights into neurological disorders
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Scientists in the United States mapped gene activity in the prefrontal cortex, a brain region responsible for planning, decision-making, and emotional regulation, to better understand both normal brain development and diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and schizophrenia.
Researchers analyzed over 6.3 million brain cells from nearly 1,500 deceased donors, ranging in age from infancy to 108, including individuals with and without neurological conditions.
They tracked changes in cells over a lifespan and identified shared patterns across Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia involving nerve-cell development and blood-vessel biology. The team also discovered that around age 24, most brain cells in the prefrontal cortex become more stable, though brain development and change continue throughout life. By comparing samples from different ages, they created a baseline to distinguish typical aging from disease-related changes.
The research connected inherited genetic risks for these disorders to specific genes and cell types, and also mapped genetic influences on over 14,000 genes. Dr. Panos Roussos of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai explained that the detailed map will help researchers pinpoint the correct biological processes and cells to target with new treatments. The PsychAD research consortium conducted the work with funding from the National Institute on Aging, and published their findings in Nature and other journals.
