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.

AI spots movement alterations before Parkinson’s symptoms appear

Early detection of even the slightest motor function changes can be critical to slowing the progression of Parkinson's disease. Yet these subtle signs often go unnoticed.

10 Sep 2025

Chronic insomnia linked to faster cognitive decline and brain changes

People with chronic insomnia may experience faster declines in memory and thinking skills as they age-along with brain changes that can be seen on imaging scans-than people who do not have chronic insomnia, according to a study published in the September 10, 2025, issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

10 Sep 2025

GABA identified as key blocker of neural repair in spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injuries caused by external trauma, such as traffic accidents or falls, often lead to the permanent loss of motor and sensory functions.

10 Sep 2025

People with similar autistic traits show greater mutual attraction and neural synchrony

New research has revealed that people with similar levels of autistic traits are more attracted to each other, and their brains synchronize in unique ways during passive and active communication.

10 Sep 2025

Rare ABCA7 gene variants linked to Alzheimer’s risk

A new study from MIT neuroscientists reveals how rare variants of a gene called ABCA7 may contribute to the development of Alzheimer's in some of the people who carry it.

10 Sep 2025

Brain lateralization shapes the mental number line in newborn chicks

Lateralization of the brain – the tendency for the left and right hemispheres to specialize in different functions – underlies the development of a left-to-right mental number line, according to a study in newborn chicks.

10 Sep 2025

Detecting causality in neural spike trains using a new technique

Understanding the brain's functional architecture is a fundamental challenge in neuroscience. The connections between neurons ultimately dictate how information is processed, transmitted, stored, and retrieved, thus forming the basis of our cognitive functions.

10 Sep 2025

New AI model can identify treatments that reverse disease states in cells

In a move that could reshape drug discovery, researchers at Harvard Medical School have designed an artificial intelligence model capable of identifying treatments that reverse disease states in cells.

10 Sep 2025

Rapid neuronal evolution linked to high prevalence of autism in humans

A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution, published by Oxford University Press, finds that the relatively high rate of Autism-spectrum disorders in humans is likely due to how humans evolved in the past.

10 Sep 2025

Can video game–style exercise slow Alzheimer’s risk?

Gamified exercise training improves hippocampal volume and cognitive performance in mild neurocognitive disorders, offering potential for dementia prevention.

10 Sep 2025

Subcutaneous amivantamab plus lazertinib yields high response in EGFR-mutant lung cancer

A new analysis from the PALOMA-2 study presented today shows that subcutaneous administration of amivantamab every four weeks (Q4W), in combination with daily oral lazertinib, yields a high objective response rate in patients with previously untreated EGFR-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

10 Sep 2025

Infant neurodevelopment not affected by brief inhaled anesthesia during surgery

Preliminary findings from a new clinical trial show no adverse neurodevelopmental effects after brief inhaled anesthesia and surgery in infants and young children, reports the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

10 Sep 2025

Kids with fluctuating gut microbiome show poorer growth

Malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under age 5, and nearly 150 million children globally under this age have stunted growth from lack of nutrition.

9 Sep 2025

Special MRI technique predicts onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline

A special MRI technique that detects iron levels in different regions of the brain can predict the onset of mild cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in cognitively unimpaired older adults, potentially creating a pathway to earlier interventions, according to a study published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America.

9 Sep 2025

Binge drinking mixed with cannabis tied to greater negative consequences

A new longitudinal study led by York University's Department of Psychology published today finds that young adults experiencing periods of high stress, anxiety and depressed mood more frequently combined binge drinking with cannabis use in order to get more high and drunk, and were also likely to report more adverse life consequences when combining these substances.

9 Sep 2025

Dementia risk rises sharply with multiple psychiatric disorders

The odds of developing dementia are strongly linked to the number of co-existing mental health disorders, rising from twice as high for one disorder to 11 times as high for four or more, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Mental Health.

9 Sep 2025

Ketogenic diet shows promise in reducing depression symptoms in college students

A new study shows an association between at least 10 weeks of following a well-formulated ketogenic diet and a roughly 70% decrease in depression symptoms among a small group of college students.

9 Sep 2025

Experts review the evidence on coenzyme Q10 and cognitive decline

Researchers reviewed evidence on coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and cognition, finding strong biological support and positive results in animal models but mixed outcomes in human trials. Larger, high-quality studies are needed to clarify whether CoQ10 can protect against cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases.

9 Sep 2025

CPAP treatment may reduce death risk in people with both type 2 diabetes and sleep apnea

People with both type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obstructive sleep apnea have a higher risk of death, but treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce that risk by around 26%, according to new research being presented at this year's Annual Meeting of The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Vienna (15-19 Sept).

9 Sep 2025

New tool can predict where deadly brain cancer might reappear

Glioblastoma is a devastatingly effective brain cancer. Doctors can cut it out or blast it with radiation, but that only buys time. The cancer has an insidious ability to hide enough tumor cells in tissue around the tumor to allow it to return as deadly as ever.

9 Sep 2025