Brain News and Research

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The human brain is the center of the human nervous system and is a highly complex organ. Enclosed in the cranium, it has the same general structure as the brains of other mammals, but is over three times as large as the brain of a typical mammal with an equivalent body size.

New brain connectivity model predicts dementia years before diagnosis

Whether the default-mode network (DMN) effective connectivity can predict future dementia diagnosis at the individual level.

10 Jun 2024

Multiple general anesthesia exposure does not compromise brain function in young children, study finds

A University of Queensland-led study has found multiple doses of anesthetics do not compromise brain function in young children.

10 Jun 2024

Study uncovers gut microbes' role in childhood obesity

Researchers used Mendelian randomization to identify causal links between gut microbes and childhood obesity, revealing key microbial players that influence pediatric adiposity.

10 Jun 2024

How Epstein-Barr virus shapes immune responses in multiple sclerosis

Study found that EBV-specific immune responses in MS patients showed higher IgG titers and cell-mediated reactions to EBV antigens compared to healthy controls, suggesting a complex role of EBV in MS development.

9 Jun 2024

Surprising link between a diverse oral microbiome and better cognitive function in aging

Study found that higher oral microbiome diversity is linked to better cognitive function and fewer memory issues in older US adults, highlighting the "oral-brain axis."

9 Jun 2024

New algorithm enhances deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's by targeting specific symptoms

Researchers from Mass General Brigham identified therapeutic targets that may optimize symptom-specific treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

8 Jun 2024

Stanford study finds 15-day paxlovid treatment safe but ineffective for long COVID

In a clinical trial conducted by Stanford Medicine investigators and their colleagues, a 15-day course of Paxlovid -; an antiviral drug combination targeting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19 -; proved safe as an extended-duration treatment but didn't lessen select symptoms of the syndrome known as long COVID: the persistence, or reappearance, of COVID-related symptoms three months or more after an initial COVID-19 infection.

7 Jun 2024

Dundee scientists unlock key mechanism in Parkinson's disease defense

Scientists at the University of Dundee have uncovered the inner relay of a molecular switch that protects the brain against the development of Parkinson's disease.

7 Jun 2024

Scientists uncover neural mechanisms used in planning

In pausing to think before making an important decision, we may imagine the potential outcomes of different choices we could make.

7 Jun 2024

Novel therapeutic approach shows promise for frontotemporal dementia in pre-clinical trials

Pre-clinical trials: A new therapeutic approach for the severe condition uses modified viruses to replace a missing protein in the brain.

7 Jun 2024

Study reveals mechanism behind brain's response to oxygen deprivation and memory loss

When we learn something new, our brain cells (neurons) communicate with each other through electrical and chemical signals.

7 Jun 2024

Novel CMOS sensor captures fast and subtle neural voltage fluctuations

Neurons communicate electrically so to understand how they produce brain functions such as memory, neuroscientists must track how their voltage changes-;sometimes subtly-;on the timescale of milliseconds.

7 Jun 2024

New biological mechanism uncovered for treating breast cancer metastasis to the brain

A study led by researchers from the University of Arizona Cancer Center at UArizona Health Sciences identified a biological mechanism that could lead to more effective treatments for breast cancer that has metastasized to the brain.

7 Jun 2024

Mechanisms of aversive learning: How negative experiences shape neural circuits

'I'm not gonna do this again', we often say when faced with negative feedback, adverse effects, or disappointing outcomes. Thus, we attempt to learn from such negative experiences.

7 Jun 2024

Curcumin nanoparticles show promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases

Review demonstrates curcumin's neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases, enhancing its potential through innovative nanoparticle formulations. This advancement could significantly improve treatments for diseases like Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and Multiple Sclerosis.

6 Jun 2024

New brain scan tool reveals key insights into childhood brain development

Study demonstrates that the OPM-MEG tool effectively tracks brain development and neural oscillations in individuals aged 2 to 34, offering new insights into neurological health and development.

6 Jun 2024

Study finds no evidence of cognitive control training benefits in children

Training exercises designed to improve cognitive control in children do not make a significant difference to their ability to delay gratification or to their academic achievement, nor do they lead to any brain changes, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

6 Jun 2024