Eisch, Lagace (IMAGE) UT Southwestern Medical Center Caption Dr. Amelia Eisch (right) and colleagues from psychiatry, including Dr. Diane Lagace, uncovered a beneficial mechanism of the Cdk5 protein, which is also thought to kill brain cells and contribute to diseases such as Alzheimer’s. The researchers found that Cdk5, together with its activating partner molecule p35, helps immature nerve cells become fully functional. Credit UT Southwestern Medical Center Usage Restrictions Please use our cutline. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.