In the cortex, DNA damage appears to outstrip the cells’ ability to repair themselves When a crucial DNA repair kit is disabled, brain cells die, providing a hint of what can go awry in the late stages of multiple sclerosis. In this mouse brain sample, DNA damage appears in green and dead cells are red. " data-large-file="https://www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/043026_AD_celldeath_main.png?w=800"> When a crucial DNA repair kit is disabled, brain cells die, providing a hint of what can go awry in the late stages of multiple sclerosis. In this mouse brain sample, DNA damage appears in green and dead cells are red. Fancy Lab/UCSF Brain cells that help make us human are also uniquely vulnerable to multiple sclerosis. A newfound cellular repair kit can’t keep up with the disease’s damage, leading to the cell death that’s a hallmark of progressive MS, researchers report April 1 in two papers in Nature .…