Stress Hormone CRH Promotes Myelin Repair After Brain Injury

Researchers discovered that the stress hormone corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is released by myelin precursor cells near injured brain tissue. The hormone rapidly signals these cells to mature and rebuild the protective myelin sheath around neurons. The same CRH pathway also shapes brain development and determines myelin thickness later in life. These findings suggest that early-life stress, which alters CRH signaling, might influence the brain’s repair capacity and contribute to psychiatric disorders. Understanding this mechanism could guide new therapeutic strategies for brain injury and mental health conditions.