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.

World's largest-ever clinical trial launched to test treatments for Parkinson's disease

The world's largest-ever clinical trial of treatments to slow or stop the progression of Parkinson's disease has launched, led by researchers at UCL and Newcastle University.

16 Oct 2025

New computer model sheds light on how brain circuits support flexible thinking

Every day, your brain makes thousands of decisions under uncertainty. Most of the time, you guess right.

16 Oct 2025

New AI tool detects bite rate to help prevent childhood obesity

The faster a child takes bites during a meal or snack, the greater risk they have for developing obesity, according to researchers in the Penn State Department of Nutritional Sciences.

16 Oct 2025

RIKEN scientists reveal connection between deep sleep and brain fluid dynamics

Researchers led by Masako Tamaki at the RIKEN Center for Brain Science in Japan report a link between deep sleep and cerebrospinal fluid, the clear liquid that surrounds and supports the brain and spinal cord.

16 Oct 2025

New nanomanufacturing technique enhances vascular systems in artificial human tissue

When biomedical researchers need to test their latest ideas, they often turn to engineered human tissue that mimics the responses in our own bodies. It's become an important intermediary step before human clinical trials.

16 Oct 2025

Study reveals how gut fungi influence the brain’s dopamine response to alcohol

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have found a surprising connection between a fungus associated with alcohol use disorder and the brain's dopamine reward pathway.

16 Oct 2025

Researchers discover new genetic cause of hereditary optic atrophy

A research team from the Medical University of Vienna and the Medical University of Graz has discovered a previously unknown genetic cause of hereditary optic atrophy, a degenerative disease of the optic nerve associated with gradual loss of vision.

16 Oct 2025

Advanced MRI technique reveals early markers of hereditary frontotemporal dementia

An international study led by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden demonstrates that it is possible to detect subtle changes in the brain and identify early signs of hereditary frontotemporal dementia using advanced brain imaging techniques.

16 Oct 2025

Maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy linked to lower myelination in newborns' brains

A study published in Environment International concludes that air pollution during pregnancy is associated with slower brain maturation in newborns.

16 Oct 2025

Major NIHR funding to drive health research and innovation in the Thames Valley region

Aston University and the University of Oxford have won £16.3m in funding from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) to fund infrastructure to improve the health of people living in the Thames Valley region and beyond.

16 Oct 2025

New European trial tests subcutaneous EEG technology for people with epilepsy

A new clinical trial co-led by researchers at FutureNeuro and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is investigating how advanced brain monitoring could improve the diagnosis and management of epilepsy.

16 Oct 2025

Blood test shows promise for faster ALS diagnosis

New research by UCLA Health has found a simple blood test could provide faster and more accurate diagnosis of ALS by measuring cell-free DNA.

15 Oct 2025

Caraway seeds inspire new seizure-fighting medicines

A UNLV-led team of researchers has co-opted a common kitchen spice to create a new class of cannabidiol (CBD)-like medicines that show powerful seizure-reducing effects - offering a safer, more affordable, and more effective treatment for childhood seizure disorders than existing frontline therapies.

15 Oct 2025

Discovery explains why women face higher risk of Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis

New research by UCLA Health has identified a sex-chromosome linked gene that drives inflammation in the female brain, offering insight into why women are disproportionately affected by conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis as well as offering a potential target for intervention.

15 Oct 2025