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.

A senescence-based therapeutic approach for temporal lobe epilepsy

Temporal lobe epilepsy, which results in recurring seizures and cognitive dysfunction, is associated with premature aging of brain cells.

22 Dec 2025

Research highlights a potential therapeutic strategy for vascular dementia

A possible new treatment for impaired brain blood flow and related dementias is on the horizon.

22 Dec 2025

Whole-body imaging reveals where drugs bind at single-cell resolution

When you take a drug, where in your body does it actually go? For most medications, scientists can make only educated guesses about the answer to this question.

22 Dec 2025

Altered stress signaling helps explain relapse in alcohol use disorder

A new study by Scripps Research reveals that alcohol dependence disrupts two signaling pathways in a stress-related part of the brain-and offers insights on developing drugs to treat this condition.

22 Dec 2025

Homer1 gene plays a critical role in shaping attention

Attention disorders such as ADHD involve a breakdown in our ability to separate signal from noise. The brain is constantly bombarded with information, and focus depends on its ability to filter out distractions and detect what matters.

22 Dec 2025

Unlocking sleep-wake secrets with dual brain signal analysis

Understanding the dynamic neural mechanisms of sleep-wake cycles is a major challenge in sleep science and neuroengineering.

22 Dec 2025

Simple blood test maps hidden Alzheimer’s disease changes

This population-based study used plasma pTau217 to estimate how common Alzheimer’s disease neuropathological changes are across age and cognitive status in a Norwegian community cohort. Prevalence rose steeply with age and was strongly associated with APOE ε4 genotype, education level, and kidney function, with implications for future use of blood biomarkers in clinical practice.

21 Dec 2025

Skin and internal organs sense cold through different molecular pathways

A research team led by Félix Viana, co-director of the Sensory Transduction and Nociception laboratory at the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint research centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), has demonstrated that the body uses different molecular mechanisms to detect cold in the skin and in internal organs.

19 Dec 2025

New grant supports research into drug-induced brain toxicity

Important FDA-approved drugs to treat HIV and cancer can save lives, but they come with their own risks. Some drugs used clinically are known to cause neurological side effects in up to half of patients, ranging from confusion and memory problems to permanent nerve damage.

19 Dec 2025

Long-approved drug shows promise in slowing neuron loss in Alzheimer’s disease

Scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz have discovered that while brain neuron changes, including cell loss, may begin in early life, a drug long-approved for other conditions might be repurposed to slow this damage, offering new hope for those with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other cognition issues.

19 Dec 2025

Cutting carbs, not fat, may better control appetite in women

Research indicates low-carb diets may enhance appetite regulation and reduce food cues in women with lipedema, offering a dietary intervention advantage.

19 Dec 2025

First Europe-wide analysis reveals widespread raccoon roundworm infection

The raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis can cause severe diseases in humans, including fatal brain damage.

19 Dec 2025

Genes and biological networks that drive long COVID risk

This study merges causal genetics and network theory, revealing 32 genes linked to long COVID, offering insights for diagnostics and personalized therapies.

19 Dec 2025

Raising the drinking age cuts teen drinking and boosts test scores

Stricter minimum legal drinking age laws in Spain are linked to reduced adolescent alcohol use and better academic outcomes, benefiting student well-being.

19 Dec 2025

New breakthrough expands possibilities for PET imaging

Imagine being able to watch organs and tissues work in real time. That's the power of Positron Emission Tomography, or PET imaging, a technology that gives physicians and researchers a window into cellular processes.

18 Dec 2025

Researchers point to mitochondria as a missing link between mental health and brain function

A stressful year leads to anxiety. Lasting isolation gives way to depression. An old trauma nags until it becomes paralyzing.

18 Dec 2025

Study finds Brain Care Score as a strong predictor of stroke across racial groups

A new study from Mass General Brigham found the Brain Care Score (BCS) is a strong predictor of stroke across different racial groups in the U.S.

18 Dec 2025

Everyday light exposure shapes how alert and mentally sharp we feel outside the lab

This real-world study shows that recent and habitual light exposure are linked to lower subjective sleepiness and faster reaction times in daily life. Brighter and more stable daytime light patterns were associated with better performance on specific cognitive tasks, independent of sleep and time of day.

18 Dec 2025

Large-scale study reveals joint functional and structural patterns of brain aging

Healthy aging induces parallel changes in brain functional activity and structural morphology, yet the interplay between these changes remains unclear.

18 Dec 2025

Junk' DNA may hold new clues to Alzheimer’s disease

When most of us think of DNA, we have a vague idea it's made up of genes that give us our physical features, our behavioral quirks, and keep our cells and organs running.

18 Dec 2025