Un grupo de científicos de los Estados Unidos encontró en el cerebro unas “estrellas” que podrían ser la clave para frenar el deterioro de la memoria causado por la enfermedad de Alzheimer.

En realidad, son astrocitos, unas células que realizan funciones esenciales en el sistema nervioso.

Lo novedoso del hallazgo, que se publicó en la revista Nature Neuroscience, es que el equipo de investigadores demostró, por primera vez, que al activar una proteína llamada Sox9, los astrocitos pueden eliminar las placas amiloides que dañan las neuronas en el Alzheimer.

Los investigadores pertenecen a la universidad Baylor College of Medicine. Los resultados son cruciales ya las placas amiloides se acumulan y pueden dañar a las neuronas.

Están asociadas con el desarrollo de la enfermedad de Alzheimer, que afecta la memoria y otras capacidades mentales.

El descubrimiento abre una nueva puerta hacia tratamientos más eficaces y brinda esperanza a millones de personas y familias.

Los científicos trabajaron con ratones que ya mostraban síntomas de Alzheimer, como fallas de memoria y acumulación de placas amiloides en el cerebro.

A estos animales les aumentaron la producción de Sox9, lo que hizo que los astrocitos se activaran y “aspiraran” más placas tóxicas. Con esto lograron mejorar la función cerebral y la memoria de los ratones.

Esta investigación demuestra que el propio cuerpo tiene recursos para combatir la enfermedad si se activan los mecanismos adecuados.

El doctor Dong-Joo Choi, primer autor del trabajo, afirmó que los astrocitos “cumplen tareas esenciales para el funcionamiento normal del cerebro, como facilitar la comunicación y el almacenamiento de la memoria”.

También explicó que, aunque estas células cambian mucho con el tiempo, todavía no se sabe completamente cómo influyen en el envejecimiento o en enfermedades como el Alzheimer, que es una de las principales causas de deterioro cerebral en el mundo.

El equipo se enfocó en el gen Sox9, conocido por regular muchas de las funciones de los astrocitos. Experimentaron manipulando ese gen en ratones con Alzheimer avanzado, un método distinto del de otros estudios que suelen trabajar antes de que la enfermedad muestre síntomas.

El doctor Benjamin Deneen, otro de los investigadores y coautores, dijo: “Manipulamos la expresión del gen Sox9 para evaluar su papel en el mantenimiento de la función de los astrocitos en el cerebro envejecido y en modelos de Alzheimer”.

Los resultados fueron decisivos. Cuando aumentaron Sox9, los astrocitos se activaron, despejaron más placas y los ratones mantuvieron mejor su memoria.

Cuando Sox9 se redujo, se formaron más placas y el daño en el cerebro creció. Las pruebas mostraron que los animales trataban mejor la información y reconocían objetos o lugares con mayor facilidad si tenían más Sox9.

“Encontramos que al aumentar la expresión de Sox9, los astrocitos ‘aspiraban’ más placas amiloides y las retiraban del cerebro como una aspiradora”, explicó Deneen.

Frente a los tratamientos actuales, que buscan evitar la formación de placas o proteger las neuronas, este hallazgo apunta a potenciar la limpieza natural del cerebro al usar las células gliales, un área poco explorada hasta ahora.

Aunque este avance es prometedor, los científicos aclaran que aún falta mucho para evaluarlo en personas.

Queda pendiente investigar cómo funciona Sox9 en cerebros humanos y si este camino podría ayudar en etapas avanzadas de la enfermedad.

Sin embargo, el hallazgo muestra la importancia de seguir explorando los propios sistemas del cuerpo para tratar el Alzheimer.

El trabajo contó con el apoyo de importantes instituciones como los Institutos Nacionales de Salud de los Estados Unidos.

El avance puede motivar a la comunidad científica a enfocar más recursos y colaboraciones en la búsqueda de soluciones para el deterioro cognitivo.

After billionaire activist Tom Steyer entered the California gubernatorial race Wednesday, former Congresswoman Katie Porter, who is also running for governor, blasted him despite previously taking thousands of dollars from him when she was in Congress.

Porter said Steyer was entering the race claiming to fight «the very industries he got rich helping grow,» to which the former member of Congress said: «I call bulls—.» Meanwhile, FEC filings show Porter, who is claiming to fight Steyer, received more than $16,000 between her House campaigns and failed Senate campaign.

«Katie Porter is the ultimate hypocrite and all she’s done in this race is step on one rake after another,» a longtime Democratic strategist, who has worked with campaigns across the country, told Fox News Digital. «This is easily the most disastrous race a Democrat has been running in 2026, which is why Porter is a real liability at the top of the ticket and why Democrats are looking around for alternatives.»

TOM STEYER MOUNTS CALIFORNIA GUBERNATORIAL BID, JOINING CROWD OF CANDIDATES JOCKEYING TO SUCCEED NEWSOM

The Porter campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment on this story.

Steyer, who once financed his own unsuccessful presidential bid in 2020, announced plans to enter the California gubernatorial race this week. The billionaire anti-Trump activist pledged to make life more affordable for working-class Americans and take on corporate interests in an announcement advertisement alerting people of his candidacy. Steyer specifically said he would take on the oil and tobacco industries in particular, which he touted a record of doing in the past as well.  

«A new billionaire in our race claims he’ll fight the very industries he got rich helping grow — fossil fuel companies, tobacco, and private immigration detention facilities — at great cost to Californians,» Porter posted on X after Steyer announced his run. «I call bulls—.»

Attached to Porter’s post was also a screenshot of a news headline from The Sacramento Bee that reads: «Tom Steyer, starring in TV ads for tobacco tax hike, invested in tobacco companies.»

People commenting on Porter’s post highlighted her financial support she has received from Steyer in the past. Between 2018 and 2023, Porter received at least $16,100 from him, a Fox News Digital review found.

CALIFORNIA PARENTS CONVICTED OF STABBING, DECAPITATING 2 CHILDREN AND FORCING OTHER KIDS TO SEE BODIES 

For Steyer, his wealth will likely be a target for his opponents.

Democratic presidential candidate businessman Tom Steyer speaks, Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2020, during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by CNN and the Des Moines Register in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

«Tom Steyer tried to buy the presidency — and he failed,» Betty Yee, a former state controller who is running in the Democratic Primary for governor, said following Steyer’s announcement. «The California governorship is not going to be his consolation prize.» 

Porter, meanwhile, has faced criticism on the campaign trail for her attitude towards staffers and the media. She faced criticism last month after abruptly walking away from a CBS interview after lashing out at the reporter interviewing her. 

«What do you say to the 40% of CA voters who you’ll need in order to win, who voted for Trump?» Porter was asked by CBS California’s Julie Watts during a segment on the controversial redistricting effort launched by Democrats in the state. 

«How would I need them in order to win, ma’am?» Porter responded.

DID CALIFORNIA MISMANAGE THE DEADLY PALISADES FIRE?

«Well, unless you think you’re going to get 60% of the vote,» the reporter, asking about the voter breakdown of Democrats and Republicans in the state, said before Porter started laughing.

Porter then went back and forth with the reporter, arguing about whether she needs to court and win over Trump voters, particularly if she’s running head-to-head against another Democrat. 

«So you don’t need them to win,» Watts asked Porter.

«I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative,» Porter said, prompting the reporter to point out that she had asked the same question to the other candidates in the race and they answered it. 

«I don’t want to keep doing this, I’m going to call it,» Porter said. 

When Watts reminded Porter that every candidate had answered the question, Porter said, «I don’t care.»

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, Porter has also faced repeated criticism about how she allegedly treats staffers. In just a span of a single week, three videos went viral of Porter berating her staff.  

The race for California governor is a crowded one, with big names like former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was reportedly planning on getting involved but ultimately backed away.  

Lesser known candidates include state schools Superintendent Tony Thurmond, former Controller Betty Yee and former Assemblyman Ian Calderon.

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller and Sophia Compton contributed to this report.

Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped several students and staff from a Catholic school early Friday, marking the latest attack on a Christian institution.

Nigerian news outlet Arise TV said 52 children were abducted from St. Mary’s School. The Catholic institution is in Agwara local government’s Papiri community, according to The Associated Press, which cited Abubakar Usman, the secretary to the Niger state government. The outlet added that Usman did not specify how many children were kidnapped in the attack.

The Niger State Police Command said military and security forces were deployed to the area where the attack took place in the early hours of Friday, the AP reported. Additionally, the Niger State Police Command said St. Mary’s educates students ages 12–17.

A security staffer was «badly shot» in the attack, according to the AP which cited a statement issued by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora.

GUNMEN ATTACK CHURCH IN NIGERIA, KILLING TWO AND KIDNAPPING OTHERS

Following the attack, Usman released a statement condemning the abductions and stating that St. Mary’s made the decision to reopen despite prior security intelligence warning of increased threats, according to Arise TV.

«Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,» the statement read.

The attack at St. Mary’s follows a similar incident earlier this week in which armed attackers kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Nigeria’s Kebbi State and killed at least one staffer. The search for the abducted schoolgirls is still underway.

On Wednesday, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church, killing at least two people and abducting the pastor and 38 worshippers, according to Reuters. In a video of the attack, which was reviewed and verified by Reuters, armed men are seen entering the church and taking worshippers’ belongings as gunshots ring out. The outlet later reported that a church official said the gunmen demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (roughly $69,000) per worshipper.

Gunmen pick up the belongings left behind by worshipers who ran for cover after hearing gunshots, as they walk into a Church in Eruku, Kwara state, Nigeria, on Nov. 18, 2025, in this picture obtained from social media. (Social media/via Reuters)

RAP STAR NICKI MINAJ THANKS TRUMP FOR ADDRESSING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN NIGERIA

Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a «country of particular concern» over the persecution of Christians. However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.’s claims.

On Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz held an event highlighting the ongoing violence in Nigeria. During the event, Waltz called the killings of Christians in Nigeria «genocide wearing the mask of chaos.»

«Folks, we have an entire faith that is being erased, one bullet at a time, one torched Bible at a time,» Waltz said.

Nicki Minaj is greeted by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz ahead of a panel discussion titled «Combatting Religious Violence and the Killing of Christians in Nigeria» at the U.S. Mission to the United Nations in New York City on Nov. 18, 2025. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Rap superstar Nicki Minaj, who has been vocal about her support for the Trump administration’s efforts to combat the persecution of Christians in Nigeria, spoke at Waltz’s event. Minaj lamented that «families have been torn apart, and entire communities live in fear constantly, simply because of how they pray.»

Fox News Digital’s Ashley Carnahan and Paul Tilsley contributed to this report.