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.

Exploring whether chemotherapy disrupts biological clock in the brain to impair circadian rhythms

During and after chemotherapy, nearly half of cancer patients endure circadian rhythm disruptions, which worsens treatment side effects.

9 Sep 2025

New feedback mechanism in the brain could open avenues for treating people with sleep disorders

As every bodybuilder knows, a deep, restful sleep boosts levels of growth hormone to build strong muscle and bone and burn fat.

9 Sep 2025

‘Rogue’ DNA rings identified as drivers of aggressive brain cancer

An international team of scientists has revealed how rogue rings of DNA that float outside of our chromosomes – known as extrachromosomal DNA, or ecDNA – can drive the growth of a large proportion of glioblastomas, the most common and aggressive adult brain cancer.

9 Sep 2025

Berberine improves cognitive function in diabetic encephalopathy mice

A recent study published in Engineering has shed new light on the potential therapeutic effects of berberine (BBR), a natural compound derived from traditional Chinese medicine, in treating diabetic encephalopathy (DE).

9 Sep 2025

Air pollution exposure linked to faster progression of Alzheimer’s disease

Exposure to high concentrations of air pollution may worsen Alzheimer's disease (AD) by accelerating the buildup of toxic proteins in the brain and speeding up cognitive decline.

8 Sep 2025

Core sugars in breast milk fuel gut and brain health beyond 12 months

Researchers reviewed 13 studies of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) through 24 months of breastfeeding, analyzing 4,786 samples. Six “core” HMOs remained dominant, with total concentrations plateauing after 12 months and evidence suggesting persistence into the second year.

8 Sep 2025

Common diabetes drug metformin cuts long covid risk by 64 percent in UK study

A large UK-based retrospective cohort study found that initiating metformin within 90 days of COVID-19 diagnosis reduced the risk of Long COVID by 64% in overweight and obese adults. The findings suggest metformin may offer a low-cost preventive option pending confirmation from randomized trials.

8 Sep 2025

Mushrooms deliver nutrition medicine and sustainability solutions in one package

This Food Science & Nutrition review highlights mushrooms as nutrient-rich functional foods packed with bioactive compounds that support human health. It explores their therapeutic, industrial, and environmental applications, from disease prevention and drug discovery to bioremediation and bioenergy.

8 Sep 2025

Study could pave the way for simple blood test to diagnose Alzheimer's disease

In a landmark study of Hispanic and Latino adults, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a link between self-reported cognitive decline and blood-based biomarkers, which could pave the way for a simple blood test to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

8 Sep 2025

Ivonescimab plus chemotherapy provides survival benefit for difficult-to-treat NSCLC patients

Adding ivonescimab, a first-in-class bispecific antibody targeting both PD-1 and VEGF, to chemotherapy significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring EGFR mutations whose disease progressed on third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

8 Sep 2025

Sleep medications linked to reduced deep sleep and disrupted memory

Long-term benzodiazepine use in older adults disrupts sleep patterns, leading to lighter sleep and potential cognitive decline due to altered brain activity.

8 Sep 2025

Can gaming strengthen the brain’s attention pathways?

Research reveals structural brain differences in action gamers, with greater cortical thickness and connectivity in regions vital for visuospatial processing.

8 Sep 2025

EEG ‘Fastball’ shows promise for spotting early memory loss in Alzheimer’s

This study introduces Fastball, an EEG method that accurately measures recognition memory in MCI, enhancing early dementia diagnosis and cognitive assessment.

8 Sep 2025

Ultrasound device enables precise non-invasive stimulation of deep brain regions

An ultrasound device that can precisely stimulate areas deep in the brain without surgery has been developed by researchers from UCL and the University of Oxford, opening up new possibilities for neurological research and treatment of disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

5 Sep 2025