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.

Prenatal air pollution exposure may slow newborn brain development

The study shows prenatal air pollution exposure correlates with slower brain myelination in infants, emphasizing the need for improved air quality policies.

20 Oct 2025

Social and environmental inequality linked to risk of Alzheimer’s

The study uncovers links between neighborhood disadvantage and Alzheimer's biomarkers, stressing the importance of addressing social inequalities in healthcare.

20 Oct 2025

MRI age clocks reveal how each organ ages differently and predict who develops disease or lives longer

Researchers developed seven MRI-based biological age clocks across major organs using UK Biobank imaging, linking each to proteins, metabolites, genetics, disease risks, mortality, and cognitive decline. These organ-specific age gaps reveal how uneven aging shapes vulnerability to conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and dementia, opening new paths for precision prevention and clinical trial stratification

19 Oct 2025

CogLinks model reveals how the brain adapts to changing rules

Every day, your brain makes thousands of decisions under uncertainty. Most of the time, you guess right. When you don't, you learn. But when the brain's ability to judge context or assign meaning falters, thoughts and behavior can go astray.

18 Oct 2025

New antibody drug conjugates can transform early HER2-positive breast cancer treatment

In a landmark moment at the ESMO Congress 2025, pivotal studies have unveiled compelling evidence that a new class of anti-cancer agents-antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs)-can dramatically improve outcomes for patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer.

18 Oct 2025

Study reveals how a microglial mutation increases risk for Alzheimer's disease

Dominika Pilat, PhD, and Ana Griciuc, PhD, of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital are the lead and senior authors of a paper published in Neuron, "The Gain-of-Function TREM2-T96K Mutation Increases Risk for Alzheimer's Disease by Impairing Microglial Function."

17 Oct 2025

Study highlights the emotional and social challenges of stroke recovery

Nirupama Yechoor, MD, MSC, of the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, is the senior author of a paper published in JAMA Network Open, "Coherence of Stroke Survivors' Lived Experiences and the Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale."

17 Oct 2025

Stroke experts call for ethical guardrails as AI expands in clinical research

As artificial intelligence (AI) use continues to grow in nearly every industry, it is important to establish guardrails to make sure the technology is used ethically and responsibly. This is especially true in the field of medicine, where errors can be a matter of life and death and patient information must be protected.

17 Oct 2025

New 3D human brain tissue platform integrates all major brain cell types into a single culture

A new 3D human brain tissue platform developed by MIT researchers is the first to integrate all major brain cell types, including neurons, glial cells and the vasculature into a single culture.

17 Oct 2025

How task engagement reshapes the brain’s auditory processing

When we are engaged in a task, our brain's auditory system changes how it works. One of the main auditory centers of the brain, auditory cortex, is filled with neural activity that is not sound driven – rather, this activity times the task, each neuron ticking at a different moment during task performance.

17 Oct 2025

Restoring pleiotrophin shows promise for improving brain function in Down syndrome

Faulty brain circuits seen in Down syndrome may be caused by the lack of a particular molecule essential for the development and function of the nervous system, new research suggests.

17 Oct 2025

How age influences the perception of ambiguous facial expressions

Do you find it easy to perceive people you meet as happy and positive? Or are you vigilant and look for signs of dissatisfaction and anger in their facial expressions?

17 Oct 2025

Study: Hidden fat inside the abdomen and liver may damage arteries

A new study led by researchers at McMaster University reveals that hidden fat deep inside the abdomen and liver may quietly damage arteries, even in people who appear healthy.

17 Oct 2025

Understanding post-traumatic vasospasm as a hidden complication of traumatic brain injury

A new review published in the Journal of Intensive Medicine on 25 July, 2025 and led by Dr. Alice Jacquens and Dr. Clara Perrault from Pitié Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France, sheds light on an under-recognized complication of traumatic brain injury (TBI): post-traumatic vasospasm (PTV).

17 Oct 2025

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic may slow how quickly alcohol hits the bloodstream

Preliminary study shows GLP-1 receptor agonists alter alcohol response, suggesting potential for reducing cravings and intoxication in obese individuals.

17 Oct 2025

Post-COVID smell loss linked to brain changes in key olfactory regions

Findings indicate significant brain changes in COVID-19 patients with smell loss, suggesting links to emotional well-being and olfactory processing.

17 Oct 2025

AI predicts cell responses to drugs and genetic changes

Controlling the state of a cell in a desired direction is one of the central challenges in life sciences, including drug development, cancer treatment, and regenerative medicine.

16 Oct 2025

Sleep-like brain waves persist in isolated cortex of epilepsy patients

Sleep-like slow-wave patterns persist for years in surgically disconnected neural tissue of awake epilepsy patients, according to a study published October 16th in the open-access journal PLOS Biology by Marcello Massimini from Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy, and colleagues.

16 Oct 2025