Friday, July 9th, 2010

Building New Neurons

Researchers report the discovery of a chemical that can encourage the formation of new neurons, at least in mice. Writing this week in the journal Cell, researchers describe work in which they identified the compound, named P7C3, through a mass screening approach. The P7C3 compound was found to encourage neurons to grow within a portion of the brain called the dentate gyrus, in mutant lab mice that typically have trouble forming new neurons.

The researchers hope that the find might point them in new directions for Alzheimer's research. Steven McKnight, one of the authors of the report, called the discovery "blind luck." We'll talk to him about the find and where the research may be headed.