'Our study indicates that LPC omega-3 lipids act as factors within the brain to direct oligodendrocyte development, a process that is critical for brain myelination,' explained Professor David Silver, the senior author of the study and Deputy Director of the CVMD Programme. Further investigations, including single-cell RNA sequencing, demonstrated that Mfsd2a's absence caused the pool of fatty acid molecules-particularly omega-3 fats-to be reduced in the precursor cells, preventing these cells from maturing into oligodendrocytes that produce myelin. In preclinical models, the team showed that removing Mfsd2a from precursor cells that mature into myelin-producing cells-known as oligodendrocytes-in the brain led to deficient myelination after birth. From what is known, genetic defects in the Mfsd2a gene leads to significantly reduced myelination and a birth defect called microcephaly, which causes the baby's head to be much smaller than it should be. To pave the way for developing such therapies, the researchers sought to understand the role of Mfsd2a, a protein that transports lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC)-a lipid that contains an omega-3 fatty acid-into the brain as part of the myelination process. 'Developing therapies to improve myelination-the formation of the myelin sheath-in ageing and disease is of great importance to ease any difficulties caused by declining myelination.' Sengottuvel Vetrivel, Senior Research Fellow with Duke-NUS' Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders (CVMD) Programme and lead investigator of the study. 'Loss of myelin sheaths occurs during the normal ageing process and in neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease,' said Dr. With ageing, myelin sheaths may naturally start to degenerate, which is often why the elderly lose their physical and mental abilities. When the myelin sheath gets damaged, nerves may lose their ability to function and cause neurological disorders.

An insulating membrane encasing nerves, myelin sheaths facilitate the quick and effective conduction of electrical signals throughout the body's nervous system.

The brain that changes