Neuroscience has long focused on neurons, but researchers are turning their attention to another kind of brain cell: glial cells. These non-neuronal cells help shape information processing, support brain circuits and influence vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases — and there are roughly as many glial cells in the human brain as neurons.

Terrence Sejnowski, PhD, is a professor and laboratory head of the Computational Neurobiology Laboratory and Francis Crick Chair at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies. In a recent Salk study, he and his team compared glial cell organization across different brain regions and mammal species, finding striking patterns in how these cells are arranged. His work looks at how glial cells differ across brain regions and species, and what those patterns might mean for brain function and disease risk.

In this interview, Sejnowski explains the three main types of glial cells and their roles: astrocytes that help feed neurons and support learning and memory, microglia that act like janitors clearing waste and damage, and oligodendrocytes that insulate nerve fibers so signals travel faster. He discusses how glial cells help clean the brain during sleep, how they may be involved early in conditions like Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, and why some research suggests glia could be a better marker of brain health than neurons alone. His insights point to a future in which understanding and protecting glial cells could open new paths for prevention and treatment.

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