What the Other Half of the Brain Does - Understanding Glial Cells

This 35-minute talk by Brad Zuchero from the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute at Stanford explores the critical role of glial cells in brain function. Dive into the fascinating world of the brain's "quiet majority" of non-neuronal cells, building on the pioneering work of Stanford's late Ben Barres who founded glia science. As a former Barres lab postdoc and now an emerging leader in the field, Zuchero provides a comprehensive overview of different types of glia and their functions, while sharing exciting discoveries from his lab—including evidence suggesting myelin's role in Alzheimer's disease. The presentation connects glial cells to various neurological conditions including sleep disorders, neuroinflammation, and brain fog associated with COVID or chemotherapy, offering a broader perspective on these essential but often overlooked brain components.