Abu Dhabi Researchers Find New Links for Mental Health Disorders
NYUAD researchers uncover how tiny molecular changes during brain development may be tied to conditions and disorders like autism and schizophrenia, offering new insights into early intervention.
A research team at NYU Abu Dhabi has discovered a key mechanism in brain development that could help explain how mental health conditions and disorders like autism and schizophrenia arise.
In a study published in Cell Reports, the university’s RNA-MIND Lab - led by Professor Dan Ohtan Wang with Research Associate Belal Shohayeb - identified how a subtle molecular tag on messenger RNA, known as m6A methylation, controls protein production in developing neurons.
This tag specifically regulates the production of Adenomatous Polyposis Coli (APC), a protein essential for shaping neurons and enabling the local creation of β-actin, a key element in forming axons, the nerve fibers that neurons use to communicate.
Importantly, the researchers also found that genetic mutations associated with autism and schizophrenia may disrupt this molecular process, potentially impacting how the brain is wired during development.
“This research connects global protein synthesis with local changes in brain cells that steer how neurons grow and connect,” said Professor Wang. “When this system fails, it may contribute to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. Mapping these details brings us closer to understanding how and when interventions could make a difference.”
The findings offer a closer look at how intricate cellular processes can shape cognitive function, revealing potential avenues for new therapies targeting early-stage brain development.
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