Stanford University School of Medicine researchers have identified several small molecules that mimic BDNF, a key protein in the brain, a discovery that could open the door to new therapies for a variety of brain disorders.

BDNF belongs to a family of proteins called nerve growth factors, which are critical during development of the nervous system. When a growth factor binds to its receptor on the surface of a neuron, it can trigger a cascade of signals inside the cell that direct the cell to survive, grow a projection extending to nearby or distant cells, or form a specialized connection with another cell that lets those two cells communicate.

Its activity is diminished in certain neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s disease, and its levels decline gradually with age.

More info: Stanford School of Medicine news