Notably, this differentiation does not speed up when myelin is lost or demand increases. Instead, the rate declines with aging and during acute inflammation, indicating that myelin maintenance is governed primarily by constitutive (ongoing) processes that are hindered by age and inflammatory signals.These findings shift the focus from “demand-driven” myelin repair to protecting and enhancing the brain’s intrinsic myelin maintenance program, suggesting new therapeutic strategies for conditions such as multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and age-related decline—prioritizing interventions that counteract aging and inflammation to sustain OPC differentiation and support healthy neural communication. Learn more here and assess the article here.
New insights into myelin maintenance that slows with age and inflammation
Myelin is the insulating layer that wraps nerve fibers, allowing brain cells to communicate quickly. In adults, new myelin is made by oligodendrocytes that arise from precursor cells (OPCs). Using genetic tools and live imaging in mice, this study publishes in Science, led by Yevgeniya A. Mironova from Kavli NDI member, Dwight Bergles’ lab, shows that OPCs attempt to mature into myelin-producing cells on a regular, internal schedule across the brain and spinal cord.