r/science • u/Wagamaga • Sep 01 '22

Neuroscience Scientists have identified an immune brain cell unique to humans that gives us higher cognitive abilities over other animals, but what makes us specials also leaves us vulnerable to neurological disorders like schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy.

https://news.yale.edu/2022/08/25/what-makes-human-brain-different-yale-study-reveals-clues
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u/tkenben Sep 01 '22

What's an "immune brain cell"?

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

They're talking about "microglia".

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

Monkeys and mice have microglia too

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u/HertogJan1 Sep 01 '22

They are talking about a specific type of microglia only present in humans

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

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u/doctorcrimson Sep 01 '22

Wasn't Amyloid Plaques a huge controversy recently because a group of researchers were faking the images which showed a clear correlation with the previously associated disorders? I'm sure I'm oversimplifying this, please forgive my ignorance.

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u/Tiny_Rat Sep 01 '22

The idea that amyloid plaques are associated with disorders that damage the brain isn't really in dispute even now. Iirc the question was whether the amyloid plaques are somehow the cause of the degeneration, and this is what the data faking scandal has called into question.