Diseases of the nervous system articles from across Nature Portfolio

Lithium in the brain has been found to protect against cognitive decline. Restoring lost lithium could be a new angle from which to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.

Binge drinking is widespread, but its underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. A recent study identifies a sparse ensemble of GABAergic neurons in the medial orbitofrontal cortex that is activated during binge drinking. These neurons send inhibitory projections to subcortical regions to limit alcohol intake, suggesting new strategies to reduce binge drinking and protect against alcohol use disorder.

A new Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium provides a wealth of data to boost mechanistic understanding, biomarker research and drug development during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases — and dementia in particular.

Authors demonstrate that Ig-like binders targeting the C-terminal of α-synuclein fibrils block fibrils-induced pathological activities, including neuronal aggregation and neuroinflammation, suggesting potential molecular avenues for future Parkinson’s disease intervention.

Olfactory deficits occur early in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, the authors identify that loss of locus coeruleus axons in the olfactory bulb underlies impaired olfaction in an AD mouse model and provide translational evidence for similar deficits in humans.

Modeling Med13l deficiency in mice reveals that MED13L shapes cortical neurogenesis through a transcriptional priming effect on key developmental genes, offering mechanistic insight and potential therapeutic targets for MED13L syndrome.

Heterochromatin loss has been linked to aging and neurodegeneration. Here, the authors show that combined loss of HP1β and HP1γ in neurons results in de-repressesion of endogenous retroviruses, inflammation in glia including accumulation of complement C3, dendritic loss, and cognitive decline in mice.

Proteomic profiling of ALS motor neurons reveals 110 biomarkers and identifies RPS29 as a regulator of translation and STMN2 maintenance for neuronal survival.

Lithium in the brain has been found to protect against cognitive decline. Restoring lost lithium could be a new angle from which to tackle Alzheimer’s disease.

Studies in rodents and humans suggest that low levels of the metal contribute to cognitive decline.

Binge drinking is widespread, but its underlying cellular mechanisms remain unclear. A recent study identifies a sparse ensemble of GABAergic neurons in the medial orbitofrontal cortex that is activated during binge drinking. These neurons send inhibitory projections to subcortical regions to limit alcohol intake, suggesting new strategies to reduce binge drinking and protect against alcohol use disorder.

A new Global Neurodegeneration Proteomics Consortium provides a wealth of data to boost mechanistic understanding, biomarker research and drug development during aging and in neurodegenerative diseases — and dementia in particular.

The next generation of deep-brain stimulation automatically corrects the precise brain waves that create symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Can this approach target other conditions?