Scientists at Penn State have identified a previously overlooked structure inside brain cells that may play a much bigger role in brain health than previously believed. The discovery shows that this tiny internal skeleton regulates how neurons absorb nutrients and proteins. Researchers say the finding could eventually point toward new ways to slow the cellular changes linked to Alzheimer's disease.
Published in Science Advances, the study focuses on the membrane-associated periodic skeleton (MPS), a lattice-like structure located just beneath the surface of neurons. While it was previously known for helping brain cells maintain their shape, the new research suggests it also acts as a gatekeeper that controls how substances enter the cell, as per a report by Science Daily.
