Targeting CB1Rs restores brain energy production in Rett mice

Increased levels of CB1 cannabinoid protein receptors, known as CB1Rs, may be tied to dysfunction of the brain’s mitochondria — its cellular energy-producing compartments — and to cognitive deficits in Rett syndrome, according to a study in a mouse model. The study also reported that blocking CB1Rs in the…

Unusually High Number of Mitochondrial DNA Seen in Patients

The copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is increased significantly in patients with Rett syndrome, possibly indicating mitochondrial dysfunction, a study reported. Researchers suggest that this increase in the copy number of mtDNA is an attempt to compensate for decreased energy availability. Mitochondria are the producers of energy within…