High-altitude yak gene hints at a new MS nerve repair path

A study suggests a yak-adapted gene called Restat, which boosts a vitamin A–related molecule (ATDR), may help repair the myelin sheath around nerves. In mice engineered with the mutation and exposed to low-oxygen conditions, researchers saw thicker, healthier myelin and faster repair after damage, offering a potential new avenue for treating multiple sclerosis and possibly other nerve-damage conditions.