Single-nucleus prefrontal cortex atlas links genetic risk to cell types across ancestries
Single-nucleus data from the multi-ancestry PsychAD cohort tied genetic risk for complex brain disorders to discrete cell populations in the human prefrontal cortex, from neurons to glial and immune cells. Bulk tissue tests missed these associations entirely. Writing in Nature, the team built transcriptomic imputation models that turned up thousands of regulatory signals across major brain cell types. They then confirmed the findings with cross-ancestry analyses in the Million Veteran Program, which showed trait-related gene dysregulation stayed conserved across different ancestral backgrounds.
A cell-specific map like this gives clinicians and drug developers a clearer path to prioritizing therapeutic targets for patients with neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Written by the Genomes desk from the primary source cited and linked above and checked against it. Research use only; not medical advice. Corrections: [email protected].