Why some brain cells are particularly vulnerable to multiple sclerosis

In the cortex, DNA damage appears to outstrip the cells’ ability to repair themselves

This slice of mouse brain looks like an abstract painting made with dots. The red ones are dead brain cells and the green ones mark DNA damage.

When a crucial DNA repair kit is disabled, brain cells die, providing a hint of what can go awry in the late stages of multiple sclerosis. In this mouse brain sample, DNA damage appears in green and dead cells are red.

Fancy Lab/UCSF

Brain cells that help make us human are also uniquely vulnerable to multiple sclerosis.