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Published on: June 12, 2026
Spatial Transcriptomics for Dissecting Cellular and Molecular Heterogeneity in the Aging and Diseased Brain
Seeun Cha1, Jin Kim1,2, Jisan Kim1
1Department of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, College of Art, Culture and Engineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Spatial transcriptomics (ST) maps gene expression to cell location in the brain, overcoming limitations of traditional sequencing. This technology is crucial for understanding brain structure, aging, and diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Genomics
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Brain molecular characteristics are linked to anatomical location.
- Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing methods lose crucial spatial context.
- Spatial transcriptomics (ST) preserves positional information for gene expression analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review spatial transcriptomics technologies for brain research.
- To compare next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based and in situ ST platforms.
- To highlight ST applications in brain aging and diseases.
Main Methods:
- Comparison of NGS-based (e.g., Visium, Stereo-Seq) and in situ (e.g., MERFISH, Xenium) ST platforms.
- Analysis of ST data resources for brain studies.
- Review of ST applications in neurodegenerative diseases and glioblastoma.
Main Results:
- NGS platforms offer whole-transcriptome profiling across large areas.
- In situ platforms provide subcellular resolution within cells.
- ST reveals spatial heterogeneity in brain aging, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and glioblastoma.
Conclusions:
- Spatial transcriptomics is essential for understanding brain function and pathology.
- ST facilitates the study of cellular and molecular heterogeneity in the brain.
- ST shows significant potential for advancing precision medicine in neurological disorders.
