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.

Researchers develop tool to predict how patients will respond to common multiple sclerosis drug

Brazilian researchers, in partnership with French institutions, have developed a tool that can predict how patients will respond to natalizumab, one of the most commonly used drugs for treating multiple sclerosis.

25 Sep 2025

Scientists explore how dopamine shapes myelin in social isolation

Scientists know that social isolation can alter brain structure and lead to the breakdown of myelin, the fatty coating that insulates nerve fibers in the brain. But they don't yet know exactly how or why it happens.

25 Sep 2025

Study shows how early-life epigenetic 'memory' can influence adult brain inflammation

Why do some people remain healthy through childhood yet become more vulnerable to brain disorders such as dementia later in life? A KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) -led team has uncovered a key part of the answer: a developmental 'switch' in astrocytes—the brain's most abundant support cells that shapes how strongly the brain's immune system reacts in adulthood.

25 Sep 2025

Antidepressant fluoxetine alters brain energy use and boosts neural plasticity

A new study shows that the widely used antidepressant fluoxetine does more than boost serotonin levels: it changes how brain cells manage their energy and rebuild their connections, potentially helping the brain "loosen up" and adapt during depression treatment.

25 Sep 2025

UdeM studies make a major breakthrough in predicting neurodegenerative diseases

An international research team led by Université de Montréal medical professor Shady Rahayel has made a major breakthrough in predicting neurodegenerative diseases.

25 Sep 2025

Alcohol raises dementia risk at every level of drinking, genetic study shows

Researchers using two major cohorts and Mendelian randomization found that alcohol consumption, whether light or heavy, raises the risk of dementia. Genetic evidence shows no safe level of drinking, challenging the belief that moderate intake protects brain health.

25 Sep 2025

Mount Sinai study maps protein networks driving Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis

A new study led by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai offers one of the most comprehensive views yet of how brain cells interact in Alzheimer's disease, mapping protein networks that reveal communication failures and point to new therapeutic opportunities.

25 Sep 2025

COVID-19 linked to long-lasting reductions in smell even without noticeable symptoms

People who suspect that their sense of smell has been dulled after a bout of COVID-19 are likely correct, a new study using an objective, 40-odor test shows. Even those who do not notice any olfactory issues may be impaired.

25 Sep 2025

Healthy habits linked to younger brain age

Your chronological age may say 65, but your brain could be acting a decade younger - or older - depending on your life experiences.

25 Sep 2025

Groundbreaking MRI technique reveals microvascular pulsations in the aging brain

Researchers at the Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI) at the Keck School of Medicine of USC have developed a groundbreaking brain imaging technique that reveals how tiny blood vessels in the brain pulse with each heartbeat-changes that may hold clues to aging and diseases such as Alzheimer's.

25 Sep 2025

Discovery of EP2 receptor opens path to pain relief without blocking inflammation

Scientists at the NYU Pain Research Center have identified which receptor in prostaglandins-the hormone-like substance targeted by common painkillers-causes pain but not inflammation.

25 Sep 2025

AstroCapsules offer a new way to reduce brain inflammation

Neuroinflammation is linked to a host of detrimental brain disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

25 Sep 2025

Colorectal cancer first presents with unexplained strokes and blood clots

A new case report was published in Volume 12 of Oncoscience on September 15, 2025, titled "When strokes reveal a hidden malignancy: An atypical case of metastatic colorectal cancer with extensive thromboembolism."

25 Sep 2025

New research explores pre-diagnostic indicators of dementia

A new study from Finland shows that low labor market participation for non-retirement related reasons may be an early indicator of dementia already years before the first evident symptoms occur. The study also identified other social markers that may be indicative of dementia up to ten years before a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia or vascular dementia.

24 Sep 2025

Racial discrimination linked to greater psychosis risk

Being racially or ethnically discriminated against may increase the risk of later developing psychotic symptoms, finds a major review of international evidence led by UCL (University College London) researchers.

24 Sep 2025

Scientists map step-by-step activation of brain receptors

When it comes to brain proteins, small changes can make a dramatic difference. Researchers studying NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors, which are essential for learning, memory and moment-by-moment consciousness, know that even slight changes in their activity level can mean the difference between normal function and serious neurological disorders.

24 Sep 2025

Influenza infection in pregnant mice linked to fetal brain exposure

A new study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign shows, for the first time, that severe flu infection in pregnant mice leads to a breakdown in placental and brain barriers, leading to the accumulation of potentially harmful molecules in the fetal brain.

24 Sep 2025

New study reveals silent onset of rheumatoid arthritis

Scientists have discovered that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doesn't start when the pain begins. It silently starts years earlier.

24 Sep 2025

Skin-to-skin care linked to stronger brain development in preterm infants

Preterm infants born before 32 weeks who received more skin-to-skin contact while in the hospital showed stronger brain development in areas tied to emotion and stress regulation than babies who received less skin-to-skin care, according to a study published in the September 24, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Sep 2025

Cognitive challenges rise sharply among younger adults in the U.S.

A growing number of U.S. adults-particularly those under 40-are reporting serious challenges with memory, concentration and decision-making, according to a new study published in the September 24, 2025, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Sep 2025