A collaborative French–Swiss study reveals a previously unknown role for astrocytes in the brain's information processing. Published in the journal Cell, the research shows that these glial cells are ...

We will begin by highlighting a subset of the many cellular functions of astrocytes, focusing specifically on those functions that have the most relevance to neurodegeneration (Figure 1). Other ...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive memory loss and a decline in mental functions. Several past studies have linked this disease to the accumulation of ...

The human brain holds a staggering number of connections, yet scientists have long struggled to explain how it stores so much information. A new study from MIT researchers suggests the answer may lie ...

As a neuromodulator, norepinephrine is a powerful force in the brain. We all know it orchestrates rapid changes in behavior such as the fight-or-flight response. Fewer people know that astrocytes ...

Astrocytes are found throughout the brain. Each astrocyte is in contact with several neurons and more than 100'000 synapses. A new study shows that, at the microscopic level, dozens of synapses from ...