February 9, 2026

@michaelokun

Can big data finally untangle neurodegeneration? Lessons from the 'omics era.' Omics refers to large scale biological measurements such as genes, RNA proteins and metabolites that together help to explain how diseases start and progress. Ibanez and colleagues describe in a new paper in Annals of Neurology how genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics are reshaping our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and where the field has ‘learned hard lessons.’ Key Points: - Neurodegenerative diseases arise from complex multi-layer biological changes, rather than single genes or proteins. - Integrating genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics has uncovered shared pathways such as inflammation, protein handling and mitochondrial dysfunction across diseases. - Moving from association to causation remains challenging and requires better data integration in larger more diverse cohorts, and of course employing careful study design. My take: This review captures both the promise and the reality of ‘omics.’ We now see disease biology in far greater detail, however translating signals into clear targets and treatments remains the hardest step. The future will depend on integration, rigor and humility. Here are 5 points that resonated w/ me: 1- Neurodegenerative diseases are systems problems, not single pathway failures. 2- ‘Omics’ approaches frequently reveal shared biology across Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and related disorders. 3- Cell type and tissue context matter and blood, CSF and brain data do not always tell the same story. 4- Bigger datasets help, however ‘smarter integration’ and causal inference may matter more. 5- The real win will be turning ‘omics’ signals into actionable targets that improve care. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.78170 #parkinson #omics #michaelokun #fixelinstitute