Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have identified a gene that plays a crucial role in the brain’s ability to form the protective layer around nerves known as myelin, potentially opening new doors to treatments for a rare childhood disorder and more common diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
“The hope is that if we understand how this gene facilitates myelination, then we can develop therapies that restore or promote myelin formation — not just for this rare disorder, but also for diseases like multiple sclerosis,” said senior author Swetha Murthy, Ph.D., assistant scientist at the OHSU Vollum Institute.