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.

Chlamydia pneumoniae and SARS-CoV-2 infections may play a role in Alzheimer's pathogenesis

A recent review by researchers at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) shows Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and SARS-CoV-2 infections may play a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

13 Jul 2025

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in early life linked to cravings for sugary and fatty foods

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in early life, including during gestation and infancy, results in a higher preference for sugary and fatty foods later in life, according to an animal study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Study: Obesity-linked cancer deaths have tripled in the United States

Cancer deaths linked to obesity have tripled in the United States over the past two decades, according to a study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Study links common sweeteners to early puberty in teens

Consuming certain sweeteners commonly found in foods and beverages may increase the risk of early puberty in children, particularly among those who are genetically predisposed, according to a study being presented Sunday at ENDO 2025, the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

13 Jul 2025

Ultra-processed foods threaten brain health in kids and teens, review warns

Children, adolescents, and unborn babies exposed to high levels of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) face increased risks of impaired brain development, cognitive deficits, and long-term mental health challenges. The review underscores how UPF-driven changes in reward pathways, nutrient deficits, inflammation, and the gut–brain axis can have lasting impacts across generations.

13 Jul 2025

Study reveals dopamine sends precise signals rather than broad brainwide messages

A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus has upended decades of neuroscience dogma, revealing that dopamine, a neurotransmitter critical for movement, motivation, learning and mood, communicates in the brain with extraordinary precision, not broad diffusion as previously believed.

12 Jul 2025

Mapping how major organs communicate during physiological stress in humans

How major organs work together to manage extreme physiological stresses such as lack of oxygen and sleep has been mapped for the first time by researchers from UCL and the University of Portsmouth.

12 Jul 2025

Stereotactic radiation shows promise for small cell lung cancer with brain metastases

A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham trialed stereotactic (targeted) brain-directed radiation in 100 patients with small cell lung cancer and brain metastases, finding they experienced positive outcomes that support use of targeted radiation in the future for such patients.

12 Jul 2025

Prefrontal cortex RNA drives female-specific brain resilience to depression

A traditionally overlooked type of RNA plays an important role in promoting resilience to depression-but only in females.

12 Jul 2025

Advancing emotional and navigational interactions through flexible electret tactile feedback actuator

The advancements in tactile perception and feedback technologies have propelled the interaction between humans and the digital realm, spurring innovative applications across various fields, including virtual reality, augmented reality, disability assistance, and communication.

12 Jul 2025

Brain protein associated with aging not linked to youth contact sports

In recent years, some scientists and advocates have warned that playing contact sports like football and hockey may increase the risk of brain diseases like Alzheimer's disease or chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) due to a buildup of a specific protein in the brain.

11 Jul 2025

More than 200 types of misfolded proteins could be associated with age-related cognitive decline

For decades, the story of Alzheimer's research has been dominated by a battle between A-beta and tau amyloids, both of which can kill neurons and impact the brain's ability to function.

11 Jul 2025

Scientists uncover key role of cypin in strengthening brain cell connections

Scientists have discovered how a key protein helps maintain strong connections between brain cells that are crucial for learning and memory.

11 Jul 2025

Erin Schuman wins 2026 HFSP Nakasone Award for neuroscience breakthrough

The International Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) is pleased to award the 2026 HFSP Nakasone Award to Erin Schuman for her breakthrough related to the function and plasticity of neuronal synapses, their mRNA triggered function, and change during memory formation.

11 Jul 2025

Genetic links between type 2 diabetes and subcortical brain structure revealed

Recently, the team led by Chief Physician Quan Zhang and Associate Professor Feng Liu at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital systematically evaluated the genetic associations between type 2 diabetes mellitus and subcortical brain structures using large-scale genome-wide association summary statistics and advanced statistical genetic methods.

11 Jul 2025