Landmark map of human brain’s gene activity holds clues to Alzheimer’s disease and more The atlas of gene expression in the prefrontal cortex was created using samples from almost 1,500 donors of all ages — from infants to centenarians. By Amanda Heidt

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02947-x?utm_source=Live+Audience&utm_campaign=d6020f3200-nature-briefing-daily-20260924&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-33f35e09ea-50432164 Researchers have produced the largest map to date of gene activity in the human prefrontal cortex, a brain area that supports planning, decision-making and behavioural and emotional regulation. The atlas draws on donated samples from almost 1,500 people — from infants to centenarians — and the recorded gene activity in more than 6.3 million individual brain cells. The scale of the map will enable the study of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases that affect the prefrontal cortex in unprecedented detail.