International Study Maps the Genetic Blueprint of the Human Brain
Led by the PsychAD Consortium and Mount Sinai, a study has mapped the gene map of the prefrontal cortex, identifying 47 common gene damages between Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.
An international study led by the PsychAD Consortium and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has mapped the prefrontal cortex region of the human brain, shedding light on neurological diseases.
Massive Gene Mapping Project
Led by the PsychAD Consortium and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, with funding from the US National Institutes of Health, the research mapped the prefrontal cortex region of the human brain.
Published in the journals Nature, Nature Medicine, and Nature Communications, the study scanned over 6.3 million single cells taken from the brains of nearly 1,500 donors to create a genetic database.
Three Main Stages of Brain Development
Upon examining the brain development of healthy individuals, it was proven that the prefrontal cortex goes through three main stages over the course of human life.
Following the rapid cellular structuring in early childhood, it was determined that the adulthood stability period begins at age 24.
Cellular Restructuring at Age 65
One of the most striking findings in the research was that the brain enters a second cellular restructuring process around the age of 65.
It was documented that gene activations managing immune responses, the biological clock, and stress mechanisms change radically during this age phase.
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Commonality
Researchers compared the tissues of individuals with eight major brain disorders against neurotypical brains.
An analysis focused on microglia identified 47 common genetic pathways mutated in both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients.
Era of Precision Medicine and Data Sharing
Dr. Panos Roussos, Director of the Center for Disease Neurogenomics at Mount Sinai, announced that the massive database has been made publicly available and free to all scientists.
Experts proclaim that single-cell RNA sequencing officially marks the beginning of an era of personalized precision medicine and targeted drug treatments for neurological diseases.