#Neurology

A groundbreaking discovery has emerged from recent research led by the German Primate Center and the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, highlighting the influence of two human-specific genes on brain development. This research, published on March 27, 2025, unveils how these genes uniquely contribute to the evolution of the human cerebrum, underscoring its unparalleled complexity in the animal kingdom.

The study illuminates the synergistic role these genes play: one gene induces the multiplication of brain progenitor cells, while the other facilitates their transformation into distinct progenitor cells destined to develop into neurons. This finely tuned mechanism is hypothesized to be a pivotal element in the evolutionary trajectory that has led to the exceptionally sophisticated human brain.

A recent study highlights the potential of nicotinamide riboside (NR), a form of vitamin B3, in combating Alzheimer’s disease, suggesting a promising avenue for slowing down or even preventing the neurodegenerative disorder. Conducted by researchers from the University of Delaware College of Health Sciences and the National Institute on Aging, this research marks a significant milestone as it confirms that NR can effectively cross into the brain, where it might mitigate the effects of aging and Alzheimer’s disease source.