This study revealed the association between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the prosaposin saposin D domain (PSAP-D). iPS cells from patients with PSAP-D mutation showed an accumulation of alpha-synuclein. Mouse with PSAP-D mutation showed dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Furthermore, two variants in the intronic regions of the PSAP-D in sporadic PD had significantly higher allele frequencies.

This study shows that POGZ, one of the most recurrently de novo mutated gene products in patients with ASD, regulates neuronal development and that ASD-related mutations on POGZ impair the POGZ function. These results provide insight into how de novo mutations on POGZ lead to impaired mature cortical network function.

Patients with schizophrenia showed a selective impairment in deviance detection component of the mismatch negativity compared to healthy comparison subjects in the current study. Future investigation of the neural mechanisms underlying deviance detection will be important for clarifying the pathophysiology of schizophrenia and developing new treatments.

The International Brain Initiative (IBI) has been established to coordinate efforts across existing and emerging national and regional brain initiatives. A NeuroView has been published in the Neuron highlighting the involvement and the new opportunities for global collaboration that are emerging between scientists, scientific societies, funders, industry, government, and society.

Research group led by professor Takuya Takahashi at Yokohama City University developed a positron emission tomography (PET) tracer for AMPA receptor, a most important synaptic protein, which enables us to visualize AMPA receptors in living human brain. This can lead to the elucidation of neuropsychiatric disorders, providing novel diagnostics and therapeutics.