Neurodegeneration News and Research

RSS

Neurodegeneration is the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons.

Stanford scientists develop an ultracompact gene activation tool

The ability to precisely adjust the expression of genes inside the human body - ramping up protective ones and tamping down harmful ones - holds enormous potential for treating and preventing disease.

28 Aug 2026

UCSF scientists build largest molecular interaction map for autism

For more than two decades, researchers have identified hundreds of genes that increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

28 Aug 2026

Brain organoids reveal how Alu-mediated gene deletion can lead to neurodegeneration

Brain diseases, including dementia, have long been studied using experimental animals such as mice.

27 Aug 2026

Specific brain regions found more vulnerable to dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is one of the most common forms of dementia in older adults, after Alzheimer's disease.

26 Aug 2026

Gut bacteria may send different biological signals in Parkinson’s disease

A new study from the University of Oulu suggests that gut bacteria may send different biological signals in Parkinson’s disease.

26 Aug 2026

Study reveals high prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy among former NFL players

At minimum, nearly a quarter of all former National Football League (NFL) players who died from 2016 to 2021 had confirmed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated head impacts – at death, finds a study published by The BMJ today.

25 Aug 2026

The diet-Alzheimer’s connection is more complicated than “eat this, avoid that”

A mini-review finds that dietary patterns may influence Alzheimer’s disease through interconnected pathways involving neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier dysfunction, homocysteine, and the gut-brain axis. The authors argue that genetics, sex, age, physical activity, and socioeconomic context may modify these relationships, supporting more individualized approaches to nutrition research and dementia prevention.

25 Aug 2026

Disrupted brain-immune signaling may help drive neurodegeneration

A Cell perspective argues that neurodegeneration can emerge from disrupted communication between neural and immune networks, with peripheral immunity, microglia, and gene-regulatory programs all shaping disease processes. The authors propose that restoring immune homeostasis and recalibrating neuroimmune circuits could create new therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities, while emphasizing that many mechanisms remain unresolved in humans.

24 Aug 2026

Brain organoid studies on the ISS move closer to new treatments

Research using human brain organoids onboard the International Space Station International Space Station (ISS) helped lead to the clinical trial of a potential therapy for Rett syndrome, a debilitating neurological disorder in children.

20 Aug 2026

A single blood test could offer a glimpse of disease risk years in advance

Machine learning-derived cellular aging clocks mapped more than 7,000 plasma proteins to over 40 cell types, revealing marked differences in how individual cell populations age. These blood-based signatures were associated with future risks of Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, lung cancer, type 2 diabetes, and mortality across follow-up extending to 15 years.

19 Aug 2026

Youth-associated protein reverses age-related microglial changes in mice

Researchers at The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified a role for the youth-associated protein TIMP2 in supporting the healthy function of microglia, the brain's resident immune cells.

14 Aug 2026

Alzheimer's markers show crucial differences across diverse global populations

Established Alzheimer's markers are also detected in blood samples from Nigeria and Tanzania. But other proteins in the blood differ from those seen in a comparable group in Canada.

13 Aug 2026

Study sheds new light on the physiological roles of protein quality control at the ribosome

Scientists at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) and the CECAD Cluster of Excellence on Aging Research have demonstrated in a biomedical study that ribosomes, the protein factories of our cells, face an unusually tough challenge when building large, membrane‑embedded proteins.

12 Aug 2026

New imaging model can detect early brain changes in Huntington's disease

Researchers have shown that an imaging model can detect microstructural abnormalities in the brain associated with Huntington's disease, potentially offering a new method for monitoring disease progression and evaluating new treatments.

11 Aug 2026

Shared cellular pathway drives neurodegeneration in rare childhood dementia and Alzheimer’s

Researchers at University of California San Diego and their colleagues have identified a key cellular pathway that drives brain degeneration in both a rare childhood disorder and the far more common Alzheimer's disease.

11 Aug 2026

New review urges proteostatic fitness standards for stem cell therapies

Stem cell therapies have expanded rapidly, with more than 115 clinical trials involving over 1,200 patients approved by late 2024. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Ryoncil (remestemcel‑L) for children with steroid‑refractory acute graft‑versus‑host disease, signaling a major shift toward routine clinical use.

11 Aug 2026