New studies show that astrocytes, also known as support cells or “silent cells,” have a larger impact on brain function than previously assumed. Previously, astrocytes were thought to provide a suppor ...

Astrocytes are the most abundant cell subtypes in the central nervous system. Previous studies believed that astrocytes are supporting cells in the brain, which only provide nutrients for neurons.

Epilepsy affects more than 70 million people in the world. It is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures, and it is related to many neurological, cognitive, and psychosocial consequences.

Contributed by Jane E. Parker; received April 9, 2025; accepted July 23, 2025; reviewed by S. P. Dinesh-Kumar, Brian J. Staskawicz, and Cyril Zipfel This contribution is part of the special series of ...

Hemoglobin could hold the key to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases. The protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen in the body could play a potentially game-changing—and ...

In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS, excessive H2O2 from reactive astrocytes triggers a vicious cycle of oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and neuronal loss.

In neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, healthy brain cells are damaged by aberrant reactive oxygen species (ROS). A potential ...