ADAMDEC1 (and why it matters)

**What it means:** ADAMDEC1 is a **metalloprotease** — a protein-cutting enzyme that remodels the **extracellular matrix** (the structural scaffolding that holds brain cells in place). Think of it as the brain's "construction crew" that maintains the physical infrastructure around neurons. **Why MHS matters:** In the multi-omics study, ADAMDEC1 was dramatically **downregulated** (log2FoldChange = −4.76 — nearly 16-fold reduction) in MEF2C-deficient microglia. This means the brain's structural scaffolding maintenance is severely disrupted — like a building where the maintenance crew has vanished.