Researchers have created "mini-brains" using stem cells from patients with a rare form of autism, allowing them to study brain development in detail. These organoids revealed how a genetic mutation in MEF2C disrupts the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurons, leading to autism.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a challenging-to-diagnose neurodegenerative disease with symptoms similar to both Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, including hallucinations, cognitive issues, and movement disorders. To study LBD’s progression, researchers developed mini brain models from LBD patient stem cells, replicating key disease characteristics seen in human brains. These models helped identify four promising drugs that may inhibit alpha-synuclein buildup, a key protein associated with LBD.