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.

Unlocking memory: The role of epigenetics in memory expression

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called "engrams". Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss.

29 Oct 2025

MIT study reveals what happens inside the brain during sleep deprivation

Nearly everyone has experienced it: After a night of poor sleep, you don't feel as alert as you should. Your brain might seem foggy, and your mind drifts off when you should be paying attention.

29 Oct 2025

Unlocking the secrets of NMDA receptors for better brain health

As information zings from cell to cell inside the brain, bursts of electricity spur its transmission. At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), scientists have turned their attention to the tiny pores that let charged ions enter a cell-and the molecular gatekeepers that help control them.

29 Oct 2025

Fruit flies illuminate the role of Alzheimer's disease risk genes

Scientists have identified hundreds of genes that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease but the roles these genes play in the brain are poorly understood.

29 Oct 2025

Harnessing bioinformatics to fast-track the discovery of spinal cord injury drug

Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a major unmet medical challenge, often resulting in permanent paralysis and disability with no effective treatments.

29 Oct 2025

Two analgesic drugs may one day be repurposed as anti-tumor therapies

Peripheral afferent neurons - nerves that send signals from all areas of the body to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) - are known to infiltrate and grow within malignant bone tumors called osteosarcomas, often accompanied by severe pain.

29 Oct 2025

Unraveling the secrets of neuronal mechanotransduction

How do embryos develop? Why does the cortex of the mammalian brain fold? How do we feel touch at our fingertips? These and other fundamental biological questions remain unsolved.

29 Oct 2025

UCSF receives historic $100 million gift for Memory and Aging Center

UC San Francisco today announced a $100 million gift to its renowned Memory and Aging Center (MAC). It is the first gift to name a UCSF division, which will now be the Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center.

29 Oct 2025

Hydroxytyrosol from olives shows new promise as a brain-protective compound

This review highlights hydroxytyrosol's role as a neuroprotective agent, activating key pathways for mental and vascular health through olive-derived compounds.

29 Oct 2025

Menopause symptoms disrupt daily life, but few women get treatment

A new study from Mayo Clinic underscores the widespread impact of menopause symptoms on midlife women - and raises concern that most are navigating this stage of life without medical care to help manage those challenges.

29 Oct 2025

Study highlights high prevalence of non-coeliac gluten sensitivity lacking clear markers

Around one in ten people worldwide report gastrointestinal and other symptoms such as fatigue and headache after eating foods containing gluten or wheat despite not having a diagnosis of either coeliac disease or wheat allergy, finds a large systematic review and meta-analysis published online in Gut.

29 Oct 2025

Wireless retinal implant restores sight in patients blinded by advanced macular degeneration

A new trial shows that a wireless subretinal implant, the PRIMA system, restored central vision in patients with geographic atrophy caused by age-related macular degeneration. After one year, 81% achieved clinically meaningful vision gains and most could read at home using prosthetic vision.

28 Oct 2025

Emerging neuromodulation techniques for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder

In a peer-reviewed article published today in Brain Medicine, a European research team presents a focused review of emerging neuromodulation techniques for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

28 Oct 2025

Exploring the gut-brain-immune axis in neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS), represent a growing global health burden, particularly in aging populations.

28 Oct 2025

Uncovering mechanisms of neuronal migration in the adult brain

Researchers have discovered how newly created neurons depend on blood flow in the adult brain to travel from their site of origin to their final location.

28 Oct 2025

Mount Sinai receives $4.5 million grant to investigate neural mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is pleased to announce it has received a three-year, $4.5 million grant from BD2: Breakthrough Discoveries for thriving with Bipolar Disorder to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying bipolar disorder and pioneer novel neuromodulation-based treatment strategies.

28 Oct 2025

Newly discovered perineural pathway enables HIV virus to redistribute throughout the body

Addressing the question of whether and how immune cells (macrophages) in the central nervous system (CNS) traffic out, researchers have now identified a perineural pathway through which the HIV virus can redistribute throughout the body.

28 Oct 2025

Precursor of dopamine increases willingness to wait for larger delayed rewards

A research team from the University of Cologne conducted one of the most comprehensive studies on dopamine and decision-making in humans so far, providing evidence for effects of the former on the latter.

28 Oct 2025

Circadian rhythm disruptions may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease

As modern lifestyles increasingly challenge the body's natural circadian rhythm, the American Heart Association is spotlighting the potential health consequences of regular disruptions to our body's internal clock with a new scientific statement published today in its flagship journal Circulation.

28 Oct 2025

Tryptophan deficiency in breast milk may explain health challenges in children born to mothers with HIV

A new UCLA study reveals that breast milk from women living with HIV contains significantly lower levels of tryptophan, an essential amino acid likely important for infant immune function, growth, and brain development.

28 Oct 2025