‘Insulating’ Brain Cells Vital to Neuron Survival, May Contribute to ALS if Damaged

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University say they have discovered that the central nervous system’s oligodendroglia cells, long thought to simply insulate nerves as they “fire” signals, also turn out to be vital to the survival of neurons. Damage to these insulators appears to contribute to brain injury in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

The discovery, which is described in the online journal Nature, suggests that a previously unknown and unexpected function of these cells is to provide nutrition to the principal brain cells, neurons. This new pathway may prove to be an important and novel therapeutic target for ALS and other diseases that attack the body’s nerve fibers, such as multiple sclerosis. For more information, click here to read the full release.