Disorders

Picower Institute scientists investigate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying complex disorders of the brain that affect emotion and cognition. To learn more about research in these or other areas, select them under "Research Topics" and you'll find relevant Picower people, discoveries and events.

December 11, 2023

Research Findings

In mice and human cell cultures, MIT researchers showed that novel nanoparticles can deliver a potential therapy for inflammation in the brain, a prominent symptom in Alzheimer’s disease

November 16, 2023

Research Findings

A new MIT study finds that microglia with mutant TREM2 protein reduce brain circuit connections, promote inflammation and contribute to Alzheimer’s pathology in other ways

November 2, 2023

New Research

Picower Institute-based collaboration will study mechanisms that might enable peripheral immune cells to deliver a potentially therapeutic molecule to the brain.

November 1, 2023

Picower Events

Seed projects, posters represent a wide range of labs working on technologies, therapeutic strategies, and fundamental research to advance understanding of age-related neurodegenerative disease

October 30, 2023

Picower People

Society for Neuroscience Award recognizes Professor Mark Bear’s synaptic plasticity research, its translation to potential amblyopia and autism treatments, and his career of mentorship.

September 28, 2023

Research Findings

By analyzing epigenomic and gene expression changes that occur in Alzheimer’s disease, researchers identify cellular pathways that could become new drug targets

September 14, 2023

Neural activity during sleep has a signature structure that the brain uses to make profound improvements in our thinking and wellness

August 29, 2023

Research Findings

A potential new Alzheimer’s drug represses the harmful inflammatory response of the brain’s immune cells, reducing disease pathology, preserving neurons and improving cognition in preclinical tests

June 22, 2023

Research Feature

Why studying simple organisms—none larger than the palm of your hand—is so integral to understanding nervous system health, disease and evolution.

June 13, 2023

Picower People

‘Career Award at the Scientific Interface’ recognizes Rebecca Pinals’ research to create a nanosensor-integrated brain-on-a-chip model of Alzheimer’s disease.

June 1, 2023

Research Findings

MIT researchers characterize gene expression patterns for 22,500 brain vascular cells across 428 donors, revealing insights for Alzheimer’s onset and potential treatments.

May 18, 2023

Research Findings

Tactile stimulation improved motor performance, reduced phosphorylated tau, preserved neurons and synapses and reduced DNA damage, a new study shows

Nanoparticle-delivered RNA reduces neuroinflammation in lab tests

How a mutation in microglia elevates Alzheimer’s risk

New grant to study possibility of an immunotherapy for autism

Aging Brain Initiative symposium showcases ‘cutting edge’ research across MIT

Mark Bear wins SfN’s Julius Axelrod Prize

Decoding the complexity of Alzheimer’s disease

The Sleeping Brain

Molecule reduces inflammation in Alzheimer’s models

Petite & Profound

Picower postdoc earns Burroughs Wellcome Fund award

Atlas of human brain blood vessels highlights changes in Alzheimer’s disease

40 Hz vibrations reduce Alzheimer’s pathology, symptoms in mouse models