Social Isolation Reduces Myelin Production

A new US study finds that depriving adult mice of social contact reduces production of myelin, the protein sheath that surrounds the fibers or axons that convey electrical signals between nerve cells. The researchers also found socially isolated mice had lower levels of myelin-forming cells in the part of the brain that is important for complex emotion and thinking, and suggest reduced myelin production may play a role in the development of mental illness. The good news is myelin production appears to be restored once social contact resumes... via Health News from Medical News Today Read More Here..