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By: KJ Lavan The Convergence of Astrocyte Biology, Metabolism, and Neuropsychiatric Health A lready quietly unfolding at the frontiers of neuroscience and precision medicine is the era of  “metabo-neuro” interventions , and astrocytes are a key to unlocking it. 🔬 Why Astrocytes? Astrocytes are no longer seen as just "support cells" in the brain. They are: Metabolic gatekeepers  – regulating glucose and lactate delivery to neurons. Neurotransmitter modulators  – recycling glutamate, shaping synaptic transmission. Neuroimmune mediators  – producing cytokines, responding to systemic inflammation. Circadian regulators  – influencing sleep, feeding, and energy homeostasis. In essence, astrocytes  translate metabolic cues into neural outcomes. 🔁 The Metabo-Neuro Feedback Loop There’s a  bi-directional dialogue  between metabolic health and brain health: Systemic metabolic dysfunction  (e.g., insulin resistance, obesity) → astrocyte inflammation →...

Resident T-Cells in Healthy Brains: A Paradigm Shift in Neuroimmunology

Here is a  concise research brief  summarizing the significance of the discovery of  T cells in healthy brains  and its implications for neuroinflammation and cognitive function research: Research Brief Title: Resident T Cells in Healthy Brains: A Paradigm Shift in Neuroimmunology Date:  June 2025 Prepared for:  Neuroscience and Immunology Research Stakeholders Author:  KJ Lavan Background Historically, the brain has been viewed as an  immune-privileged  organ—largely insulated from systemic immune surveillance. T cells were thought to infiltrate the brain primarily during pathological events such as infections, trauma, or autoimmune diseases. However,  new evidence (Source: The Subfornical Organ is a Nucleus for Gut-Derived T-Cells that Regulate Behavior, Yoshida, et al., Nature, 2025)   reveals that T cells are not transient visitors but  resident cells  in healthy brains , raising critical questions about their function...