ATLANTA — Researchers at the University of Georgia identified several genes that help one type of flatworm regenerate its brain, a finding that could help scientists work toward better treatments for traumatic brain injuries and brain diseases in humans.
The study, published in Nature Communications, identified almost a dozen genes that tell stem cells to become dopamine-producing neurons and guide those new neurons to the right places in the worm’s body.
The researchers said humans and other animals also have these neurons.
The study looks at planarians, a type of flatworm that can repair injuries and regrow their brain.
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Researchers said the findings show how shared genes work in flatworms and give them a starting point to study similar pathways that could be activated in humans.
The researchers said healthcare providers currently have limited options to treat conditions such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and traumatic brain injuries.
“Big picture: We would like to come up with ideas for how to better empower the human brain to regenerate itself,” Rachel Roberts-Galbraith, corresponding author of the study and an associate professor in UGA’s Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, said.
“The understanding of brain regeneration that we can develop using simple animals gives us a reason to be optimistic. It’s not an inherent property of brains that makes them bad at regeneration. It’s something specific to humans,” Roberts-Galbraith continued.
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