New Gene Discovery Sheds Light On How Our Brain Ages, Johns Hopkins University Study

Using a powerful gene-hunting technique for the first time in mammalian brain cells, researchers at Johns Hopkins report they have identified a gene involved in building the circuitry that relays signals through the brain. The gene is a likely player in the aging process in the brain, the researchers say. Additionally, in demonstrating the usefulness of the new method, the discovery paves the way for faster progress toward identifying genes involved in complex mental illnesses such as autism and schizophrenia -- as well as potential drugs for such conditions. A summary of the study appears in the Dec. 12 issue of Cell Reports.

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