UT Southwestern Medical Center

Brain Cells May Be Smarter Than Scientists Realized

Dendrites May Be Key to Learning and Memory, Study Suggests

Branchlike structures called dendrites that extend from neurons appear to make their own computations independent of the cell body, helping individual brain cells store memories of the past, respond to the present, and anticipate the future, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers suggests. The findings, published in Science, represent a pa

New Biosensor Tracks Down Missing Metabolite From Childhood Brain Disorder

Scientists at Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern (CRI) have discovered why babies born with a rare inborn error of metabolism, called GPT2 deficiency, suffer from severe neurological impairment, according to research published in Science.

Blood Tests for Alzheimer's Disease Changing Current, Future State of Dementia Care

While we've gained significant ground in understanding how dementias affect the brain, clinicians must still rely on generalized cognitive tests and advanced brain scans to make a definitive diagnosis. But a shift is in progress that we believe will fundamentally change our approach to Alzheimer's diagnosis, treatment, and interventions in the future.

Metabolites Produced by Gut Bacteria May Protect Against Fungal Infection

A metabolic byproduct formed when gut bacteria break down dietary fiber appears to protect against dangerous fungal infections common in immunocompromised patients, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows. The findings, published in Cell Host & Microbe, could lead to new therapies to shield this vulnerable population from Candida albi