Looking at the future of neurodegeneration research!

Conversations between the immune and central nervous systems are proving to be essential for the healthy social behavior, learning, and memory.

Some viruses, possibly even SARS-CoV-2, can sneak into the brain through the nose. Recent studies show that microglia are ready for them when they do.

Several routes exist for immune cells to communicate with neurons in the central nervous system, though T cells rarely come in direct contact with neural tissue.

Microglia ingest nerve cell connections, leading to the loss of information stored in neuronal circuits.

By trimming synapses in the adult mouse hippocampus, microglia help facilitate forgetting.

Clues about the biological mechanisms that contribute to a person’s chance of contemplating or attempting suicide

The biochemical mechanisms in the brain underlying suicidal behavior are beginning to come to light, and researchers hope they could one day lead to better treatment and prevention strategies.

Clinical trials that target human endogenous retroviruses to treat multiple sclerosis, ALS, and other ailments are underway, but many questions remain about how these sequences may disrupt our biology.