Glial Cells
The brain's unsung support staff — not neurons, but just as essential for everything your brain does.
The brain's support staff — cells that are not neurons but make up about half the brain. They insulate nerve fibres (myelin), clean up waste, deliver nutrients, and help form new connections. For decades, science ignored them. Now we know they are essential for healthy brain function and that differences in glial cells may contribute to several neurodevelopmental conditions.
How it works
Your glial cells insulate nerve fibres, clean up waste, supply nutrients, and support the immune system. They make up about half your brain. Research is revealing their role in neurodevelopmental differences — they're not just scaffolding, they actively shape how your brain works.
Think of it like
It's like the road crew that maintains the highways — without them, even the fastest cars (neurons) would grind to a halt.
What it feels like
You won't feel your glial cells working, but they're the reason your brain can do everything it does. They're the infrastructure behind every thought.