Brad Zuchero, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Stanford Medicine and a leader in glial cell research, dives into the vital roles of glial cells in brain health. He discusses how myelin not only insulates nerve signals but also plays a surprising role in Alzheimer's disease. The conversation sheds light on glial cells' contributions to neuroinflammation, brain fog, and synaptic maintenance. Zuchero emphasizes the importance of these often-overlooked cells in understanding neurodegenerative diseases, providing a fresh perspective on brain function.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Ben's Gems
Brad Zuchero still finds inspiration in Ben Barres's old emails.
He has a folder of "Ben's gems" with innovative ideas from years ago.
insights INSIGHT
Glia's Significance
Glial cells comprise over half of brain cells, varying by region and counting method.
Their dynamic roles in the nervous system are key, regardless of exact numbers.
insights INSIGHT
Astrocyte's Reach
Astrocytes, with numerous dynamic processes, interact with synapses throughout the CNS.
These processes, likened to fingertips, allow direct interaction with synapses, enabling functions like clearing debris.
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We've talked about glia and sleep. We've talked about glia and neuroinflammation. We've talked about glia in the brain fog that can accompany COVID or chemotherapy. We've talked about the brain's quiet majority of non–neuronal cells in so many different contexts that it felt like it was high time for us to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. After all, glia science was founded here at Stanford in the lab of the late, great Ben Barres.
No one is better suited to take us through this history and lead us to the frontiers of the field than today's guest, Brad Zuchero.
A former Barres lab postdoc, and now an emerging leader in this field in his own right, Brad gives us an overview of our growing understanding of the various different kinds of glia and their roles in brain function, and shares the exciting discoveries emerging from his lab — including growing evidence of a role for myelin in Alzheimers disease.
We want to hear from your neurons! Email us at at neuronspodcast@stanford.edu if you'd be willing to help out with some listener research, and we'll be in touch with some follow-up questions.
Episode Credits
This episode was produced by Michael Osborne at 14th Street Studios, with production assistance by Morgan Honaker. Our logo is by Aimee Garza. The show is hosted by Nicholas Weiler at Stanford's Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and supported in part by the Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience at Wu Tsai Neuro.
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From Our Neurons to Yours