News
Synapse discovery paves way for Alzheimer’s and MS treatments
A new US study has for the first time revealed the function of a little-understood junction between cells in the brain that could have important treatment implications for conditions ranging from multiple sclerosis (MS) to Alzheimer’s disease.
The research is published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
In the study, neuroscientists focused on the synapse connecting neurons to a non-neuronal cell, known as oligodendrocyte precursor cells, or OPCs.
OPCs can differentiate into oligodendrocytes, which produce a sheath around nerves called myelin.
This protective sheath covers each nerve cell’s axon — the threadlike portion of a cell that transmits electrical signals between cells.
The researchers discovered that these synapses play a pivotal role in producing that myelin.
Kelly Monk, Ph.D. is professor and co-director of the Vollum Institute at Oregon Health and Science University (HSU).
The researcher said: “This is the first investigation of these synapses in live tissue.
“This gives an understanding of the basic, fundamental properties of how these cells work in normal development.
“In the future, we might look at how they function differently in the context of MS patients.”
The fact that these synapses exist at all was the subject of a landmark discovery by OHSU researchers at the Vollum that was published in the journal Nature in May 2000.
Until that point, synapses in the brain had been known only to carry neurotransmitters between neurons, so the discovery of a synapse between neurons and OPCs came as a revelation to researchers.
Monk said: “After two decades, we still didn’t know what these synapses do.”
The researchers tackled the problem by using single-cell imaging of live tissue in zebrafish, whose transparent bodies enable researchers to see the inner workings of their central nervous system in real time.
Using powerful new tools in imaging, pharmacology and gene editing, scientists were able to use neuron-OPC synapses to predict the timing and location of the formation of myelin.
The findings are likely the tip of the iceberg in terms of understanding the importance of these synapses, according lead author Jiaxing Li, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Monk’s lab.
Oligodendrocyte precursor cells comprise about 5 per cent of all cells in the brain — meaning the synapses they form with neurons could be relevant to many disease conditions, including the formation of cancerous tumours.
Li noted that previous studies have suggested a role for OPCs in a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including demyelinating disorders such as MS, neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and even psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.
By demonstrating the basic function of the synapse between neurons and OPCs, the study may lead to new methods of regulating OPC function to alter disease progression, Li said.
For example, the synapses could be the key to promoting remyelination in conditions such MS, where myelin has been degraded.
In MS, this degradation can slow or even block electric signals required for people to see, move their muscles, feel sensations and think.
Li said: “There may be a way to intervene so that you can increase the myelin sheath.”
Monk believes that the discovery may be most immediately relevant to cancer.
The researcher said: “In glioma, these synapses are hijacked to drive tumour progression.
“It may be possible to modulate the synaptic input involved in tumour formation, while still allowing for normal synaptic signalling.”
Even though these precursor cells comprise roughly 5 per cent of all human brain cells, only a fraction go on to form oligodendrocytes.
Monk said|: “It’s becoming pretty clear that these OPCs have other functions aside from forming oligodendrocytes.
“From an evolutionary perspective, it doesn’t make sense to have so many of these precursor cells in your brain if they’re not doing something.”
Their synaptic connection to neurons therefore likely plays a fundamental role in the brain, and is worthy of future exploration, the researcher added.
Agetech World explores the latest business developments in the world of ageing and longevity.
US$4.5m NIH Funding for senior care technology
Immersive technology company Rendever has secured nearly US$4.5m in grant funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve the ageing process through technology-enabled social networks.
The funding includes US$3.8m for the Thrive At Home Program and an additional grant to build a caregiver support network in virtual reality (VR).
The company says the funds will pave the way for Rendever to bring its technology to the large majority of individuals and caregivers who are ageing in place and lacking in structural social support.
This significant investment continues Rendever’s work alongside the University of California in Santa Barbara, and also involves new partnerships with the research organisation RAND and with Right at Home to bring this technology into the home care market.
Together, they will conduct studies to evaluate the effectiveness of VR technology in building relationships across living environments, thereby reducing social isolation, improving mental health, and enhancing overall well-being throughout the ageing lifespan.
At the same time, Rendever will be studying the impact of caregiving tools, including its recent Dementia & Empathy training programme.
With the definition and experience of “home” shifting continually in a way that can disrupt critical social engagement, this initiative has the potential to revolutionise the way seniors experience care and community.
“Our Phase II trial has shown the power of VR to effectively build and enhance family relationships across distances – even across country lines.
“The future of aging depends on technology that effectively reshapes how we experience these core parts of the human experience as we get older,” said Kyle Rand, Rendever’s CEO.
“We know there’s nothing more holistically impactful than our social health.
“Over the next three years, we’ll work across the industry to build the next generation of community infrastructure that delivers real happiness and forges new relationships, all while driving meaningful health outcomes.”
Previous work in this NIH line of research has shown that family members experience a significant reduction in stress and depression after a four-week social intervention in Rendever.
Recent results show that the positive effects of social VR interventions are increased for families navigating dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.
First AI-powered personalised mobile app for brain health and longevity
Digital health company Tolion Health AI has launched its mobile app, Tolion Brain Coach, powered by Tolion AI.
Tolion’s launch makes its AI-powered Tolion Brain Coach free to all, aiming to expand access to proactive brain-health tools based on current neuroscience.
The app provides daily evidence-based tips for cognitive health and lowering dementia risk.
The launch of Tolion Brain Coach introduces Tolion’s advanced science and technology to a broad audience focused on brain health.
“The launch of Tolion Brain Coach introduces Tolion’s advanced science and technology to a broad audience focused on brain health,” said Martin Tolar, founder and director of Tolion Health AI.
“Translating recent research into practical steps helps users prevent cognitive decline, stay mentally sharp, and lead healthier lives. With Tolion, prevention is both possible and personal.”
Tolion Brain Coach integrates AI-based analytics, wearable device data from industry leaders such as Garmin, and a medical knowledge engine to deliver tailored recommendations for cognitive improvement.
The app enables users to take proactive steps for better brain and mental performance through simple, daily actions and combines AI-driven behavioral analytics and integration with wearables, along with a medical knowledge engine to deliver personalised guidance.
“Personalised lifestyle recommendations have the potential to significantly enhance health, well-being, and longevity,” stated Ing. Jaroslav Lískovec, CEO of Tolion Health.
“By focusing on preventive measures, healthcare systems can achieve substantial cost savings and improve patient outcomes.”
Avant Technologies and Austrianova to advance anti-ageing therapies
Biotech company Avant Technologies has announced that its 50/50 joint venture – Klothonova – with Austrianova, has entered into an exclusive agreement with Klothea Bio.
The license agreement grants Klothonova exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialise Klothea Bio’s proprietary Klotho producing cells, encapsulated using Austrianova’s proprietary Cell-in-a-Box technology, for the treatment of diseases and conditions in humans and animals.
Under the terms of the agreement, Klothea Bio – a Delaware-based biotechnology company specializing in Klotho protein research and therapeutic applications – provides Klothonova access to a proprietary Klotho generating cell line.
Klotho, often referred to as the “longevity protein,” has demonstrated significant potential in combating key drivers of ageing such as cellular senescence and chronic inflammation.
The collaboration aims to accelerate the development of regenerative and anti-ageing therapies that target the cellular mechanisms underlying longevity and chronic disease, positioning Klotho-based treatments at the forefront of next-generation anti-ageing innovations.
Under the agreement, Klothonova will leverage this technology in conjunction with Austrianova’s proprietary Cell-in-a-Box encapsulation platform to encapsulate Klothea’s genetically modified cell line that overexpresses Klotho proteins.
This aims to create encapsulated, implantable therapies capable of sustained, localized delivery, enhancing safety and efficacy for applications in regenerative medicine and disease prevention.
Diligent Robotics selected for AgeTech Collaborative from AARP Accelerator Program
Diligent Robotics has been accepted into the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP accelerator, an eight-week programme designed to elevate promising early-stage AgeTech startups.
To date, Diligent Robotics has powered over 1.25 million deliveries of medications, lab samples, and medical supplies across leading hospitals and health systems including Northwestern Medicine, Providence Saint John’s Health Center, and Rochester General Hospital.
Its flagship mobile manipulation platform Moxi navigates complex, crowded, human environments to free staff for more high-value clinical tasks instead of locating supplies.
The company’s entry into senior care comes as the sector faces rising labour shortages, with 18 million expected to exit this field by 2040 just as additional 2.5 million jobs will be created.
The AgeTech Collaborative from AARP accelerates innovation in technologies that improve how we age.
Through its participation, Diligent Robotics will receive direct go-to-market support and will focus on product discovery to identify where assistive robots like Moxi can have the most impact for older adults.
Through this expansion, Diligent Robotics says it will also be able to continue pushing forward physical AI progress.
AI-Powered resident care launches
Senior care company MorseLife Health System is transforming how its residents connect with services, provide feedback, and experience daily life through its voice-first AI companion, Malka AI.
Since Malka AI was first implemented in October 2025, it has eliminated about 80 calls to the concierge desk, freeing staff to focus on personalised service while improving response times.
Keith Myers, president and CEO of MorseLife, said: “The integration of Malka AI is a testament to MorseLife’s continued commitment to innovating for and enhancing the lives of our residents.
“By turning real-time insights into action, it allows our teams to respond with speed and precision while deepening the connection between residents and staff. We’re proud to be setting a new standard for excellence in senior living.”
Dementia has overtaken cancer as the disease Britons fear most, with one in three adults naming it their greatest health concern, new research finds.
The findings come from the New Ageing Index, described as the first project to track how the UK thinks and feels about ageing and care over an extended period.
Fear of dementia among family carers rose from 27 per cent to 31 per cent over the 12-month study, while fear of cancer fell from 30 per cent to 21 per cent.
Researchers suggest decades of progress in cancer treatment and survival are shifting perceptions, while dementia remains poorly understood and devastating for families.
The research, commissioned by home care provider Home Instead and conducted by Savanta, also finds mounting pressure on unpaid family carers.
More than two in five (43 per cent) of those supporting a relative with dementia say they have left employment to do so, up from 37 per cent just 10 months earlier.
The proportion of family carers saying they need more support has risen from 68 per cent to 77 per cent since the study began.
Martin Jones, chief executive of Home Instead UK and International, said: “Over the past year, we’ve seen a clear shift in how Britain views ageing and care. Dementia has become our greatest fear, and the strain on families caring for loved ones is growing.
“If we can’t cure dementia, we must at least care better, for those living with the disease and for the families supporting them.
“The findings show the public is ready for change. It’s time for the government, business and policymakers to listen and act.”
Public frustration with state social care provision appears to be deepening.
Half of UK adults (51 per cent) now believe the sector should be taken out of government control, and more families are considering private care options, up from 46 per cent to 50 per cent.
Demand among family carers for government investment in dementia research rose from 84 per cent to 92 per cent across the four waves of research.
Dr Michelle Hamill, a clinical psychologist, said: “It’s natural to feel frightened when thinking about dementia.
“The condition is often surrounded by misinformation, dehumanising language, and inadequate support systems, all of which reinforce the belief that nothing can be done to help.
“While dementia does affect a person’s abilities and awareness over time, it does not erase identity or diminish a lifetime of experiences.
“Many people continue to find purpose, meaning, and joy, especially when given the right care and understanding.”
A protein-blocking injection triggered cartilage regeneration in old mice, raising hopes for a future alternative to knee replacement surgery.
The treatment targets 15-PGDH, a protein that rises with age and contributes to tissue decline. Researchers call such age-linked enzymes “gerozymes”, master regulators of ageing.
Blocking 15-PGDH thickened knee cartilage across the joint surface in older animals. Tests showed the new tissue was smooth, functional hyaline cartilage found in healthy joints.
Researchers at Stanford Medicine also reported that the therapy prevented osteoarthritis after knee injuries akin to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears seen in football, basketball and skiing.
“Millions of people suffer from joint pain and swelling as they age,” said Nidhi Bhutani, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at Stanford.
“It is a huge unmet medical need. Until now, there has been no drug that directly treats the cause of cartilage loss.”
Osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease affecting about one in five adults in the US, is estimated to cost around US$65bn a year in direct healthcare spending.
Current options mainly manage pain or replace joints surgically.
Human knee tissue from replacement operations also produced new, functional cartilage when exposed to the treatment, hinting that the approach could translate to patients.
The regeneration did not rely on stem cells. Instead, existing cartilage-producing cells, called chondrocytes, shifted their gene activity towards a more youthful state.
Chondrocytes make and maintain cartilage.
“This is a new way of regenerating adult tissue, and it has significant clinical promise for treating arthritis due to ageing or injury,” said Helen Blau, professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford and co-senior author of the study.
“We were looking for stem cells, but they are clearly not involved.”
An oral version is already in phase 1 trials for age-related muscle weakness, with early results indicating it is safe in healthy volunteers.
“Our hope is that a similar trial will be launched soon to test its effect in cartilage regeneration,” Blau added.
“Imagine regrowing existing cartilage and avoiding joint replacement.”
Round up: First AI-powered personalised app for brain health and longevity, and more
Dementia overtakes cancer as Britain’s most feared illness
Injection triggers cartilage regeneration in ageing mice
$60bn Canadian financiers launch longevity institute
Interview: How speech and language software could transform dementia diagnosis
Childhood loneliness linked to increased risk of dementia, study finds
Lack of free time could increase dementia risk
Injection triggers cartilage regeneration in ageing mice
Listening to music can reduce dementia risk, study reveals
Weight loss jabs my only temporarily reduce ‘food noise,’ study finds
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