Japanese researchers are using nerve cells to cultivate 'brain organoids,' using these as models to explore the mechanisms of the brain and develop treatments for brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Advancements in Technology Development: In 2024, Professor Yoshio Ikeuchi's team at the University of Tokyo successfully achieved orderly axonal connections between multiple brain-type organoids and observed synchronized complex electrical signals. Additionally, the NTT Basic Research Laboratory for Materials Science developed a new method to encase nerve cells in graphene, enabling the construction of three-dimensional tissues that can maintain stable activity for 70 days.

Application to disease models and drug screening: Professor Eiji Okano's team at Keio University has cultivated brain organoids using iPS cells from Alzheimer's disease patients. This model successfully reproduces two key processes in disease development: beta-amyloid deposition and tau protein aggregation. This not only aids in analyzing the mechanisms of the disease but also provides a new platform for drug screening.