During an investigation into schizophrenia, Michael McConnell, a neuroscientist at UVA, found variance in the genes of neurons and how it affects their life. CNV neurons, neurons with a significant difference in gene make up, are the most vulnerable to dying. People who have CNV neurons may develop neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

McConnell has only looked at neurons in the frontal cortex, and neurons can only be examined after death. More work needs to be done, but this is a good lead to find the cause of these deadly diseases.