Okayama University: Direct Conversion of Glial Cells to Neurons in the Brain Suppresses Hippocampal Damage in Vascular Dementia Model

This is the press release of joint research results from Okayama University and Toyama University.

June 13, 2026 National University Corporation Okayama University

https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/

<Key Points of the Announcement> - Demonstrated a new gene therapy approach that directly converts support cells (glial cells) in the brain into neurons in a vascular dementia model. - By introducing three transcription factors involved in neural induction (Ascl1, NeuroD1, Sox2) into glial cells, the team suppressed inflammation in the hippocampus associated with memory and reduced damage. - Confirmed the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus and a tendency toward improved cognitive function, raising hopes for a groundbreaking regenerative medicine for dementia.

◆ Summary A research team consisting of Ricardo Satoshi Ota-Elliott (graduate student at the time of research, currently at the Centenario Peruvian Japanese Hospital Pediatrics Dept.) at the Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University; Assistant Professor Yusuke Fukui at the Okayama University Hospital; Associate Professor Toru Yamashita (at the time of research, currently Professor of Neurology at Toyama University); and Professor Hiroyuki Ishiura at Okayama University, has demonstrated a groundbreaking gene therapy approach in a vascular dementia model mouse. The therapy directly converts glial cells, which play a supportive role in the brain, into memory-related neurons. By introducing specific genes (three transcription factors) that promote neural differentiation, the team succeeded in suppressing inflammation in the hippocampus, which governs memory, and preventing severe damage in this crucial region. Furthermore, the generation of new neurons in the hippocampus and a tendency toward improved cognitive function were observed.

These research findings were published as a Research Article on April 16, 2026, in the journal "Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism" of the International Society for Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.

Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia and represents a serious global challenge. Against this disease, for which fundamental treatments have been difficult, this achievement of using cells originally present in the brain to generate new neurons presents a completely new therapeutic possibility of directly repairing brain damage.

This study is a major step toward realizing groundbreaking "regenerative medicine (gene therapy)" for the treatment of dementia and other neurological disorders. In the future, by elucidating the detailed mechanism of how neurons are created, this is expected to lead to the development of innovative new drugs and therapies that restore memory and cognitive functions lost to dementia.

This matter was released by Okayama University on May 21, 2026.

Figure. Generation of new neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region by ANS administration. Microscopic images of the brain's "hippocampus (specifically the CA1 region)" which is important for memory. While no changes were observed in normal mice (normal control group) or vascular dementia model mice (disease control group), in mice administered with ANS, "double-positive cells glowing in both red and green (white arrows)" were observed, indicating the conversion from glial cells to neurons. The bottom-right figure is an enlarged view of these cells.

Assistant Professor Yusuke Fukui introducing research results at the press conference

◆ Quote from the Researchers "Developing a fundamental treatment to restore lost brain function has been a long-standing challenge. This research has demonstrated a new treatment method that prevents brain damage by directly converting glial cells in the brain into neurons. I hope this achievement serves as a major stepping stone toward regenerative medicine and the development of new drugs for dementia. We will continue to advance our research to clarify the mechanisms and connect them to new treatments."

Ricardo Satoshi Ota-Elliott (graduate student at the time of research) and Assistant Professor Yusuke Fukui (right)

◆ Paper Information Title: Direct glia-to-neuron conversion mitigates hippocampal damage in a vascular dementia mouse model Journal: Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow & Metabolism Authors: Ricardo Satoshi Ota-Elliott*, Yusuke Fukui*, Xinran Hu, Yuting Bian, Hongming Sun, Hangping An, Hongzhi Liu, Ryuta Morihara, Hiroyuki Ishiura, and Toru Yamashita. DOI: 10.1177/0271678X261441070 URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/d