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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.

New AI tool enhances discovery of genes involved in neurodevelopmental conditions

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) approach that accelerates the identification of genes that contribute to neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy and developmental delay.

26 Feb 2025

LMU study uncovers dual functionality of dendritic cells in immune response

LMU researchers have shown that a particular type of immune cell acts more flexibly than previously thought - with potential for new therapeutic approaches.

26 Feb 2025

Organ aging measured by blood test may help predict age-related diseases

Our organs age at different rates, and a blood test determining how much they've each aged could predict the risk of conditions like lung cancer and heart disease decades later, finds a new study led by University College London (UCL) researchers.

26 Feb 2025

Study reveals brain structure variability in schizophrenia

The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to person. A new study shows how these differences manifest themselves in the structure of the brain.

26 Feb 2025

Scented wax melts emit harmful nanoparticles

Scented wax melts release a similar level of polluting nanoparticles to burning candles and even diesel engines.

26 Feb 2025

Lean and oily fish consumption linked to slower disability progression in MS

A high dietary intake of lean and oily fish may slow the progression of disability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), suggests a comparative population based study, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

25 Feb 2025

New tool could revolutionize brain tumor surgery with rapid cancer cell detection

A novel tool for rapidly identifying the genetic "fingerprints" of cancer cells may enable future surgeons to more accurately remove brain tumors while a patient is in the operating room, new research reveals.

25 Feb 2025

LJI scientists discover a potential new target for treating Parkinson's disease

Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have found a potential new target for treating Parkinson's disease.

25 Feb 2025

Can coffee push back Parkinson’s? New study uncovers key genetic link

Higher coffee consumption is causally linked to delayed onset of Parkinson’s disease but does not affect disease risk or progression, according to a Mendelian randomization study.

25 Feb 2025

Cooling treatment shows no benefits for preterm infants with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy

Lowering the body temperature of preterm infants (born at 33 to 35 weeks of pregnancy) with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE)-a type of brain damage caused by oxygen loss-offers no benefits over standard care, according to a study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

25 Feb 2025

FGF21 hormone drives protein-specific appetite and reward in the brain

When faced with multiple food options and ultimately choosing one, the factors of that decision-making process may be more physiological than previously assumed.

25 Feb 2025

Researchers challenge previous understanding of tumor growth in NF-1

Despite what was previously thought, new research has shown that genetic changes alone cannot explain why and where tumors grow in those with genetic condition neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1).

25 Feb 2025

Mass General Brigham study uncovers 16 novel Alzheimer's risk genes

Investigators from Mass General Brigham have conducted a multi-ancestry, whole genome sequencing association study of Alzheimer's disease and found evidence for 16 new susceptibility genes, expanding the study of Alzheimer's disease in underrepresented groups.

25 Feb 2025

Early pregnancy nutrition impacts child's motor development at age 5-6

A healthy diet in early pregnancy supports the child's motor development at the age of 5-6 years. Higher maternal body fat mass, on the other hand, has an adverse effect on the child's motor development.

25 Feb 2025

Study explains why misplaced neurons in the brain become overactive

Research reveals why misplaced neurons in the brain are overactive and lead to developmental disorders.

25 Feb 2025

Childhood trauma physically alters the hearts of Black women, study shows

New research from Emory University indicates that childhood trauma physically alters the hearts of Black women.

25 Feb 2025

Common medications disrupt brain development by affecting sterol biosynthesis

In a peer-reviewed Perspective (review) article, researchers at the University of Nebraska Medical Center have uncovered concerning evidence that commonly prescribed medications may interfere with crucial brain development processes by disrupting sterol biosynthesis.

25 Feb 2025

Excessive screen time linked to manic symptoms in teens

Researchers examine the association between excessive screen time and manic symptoms in early adolescence.

25 Feb 2025

New imaging tool reveals the brain's role in cochlea sensitivity

The brain may play a role in helping the ear regulate its sensitivity to sound and compensate for hearing loss by sending a signal to a structure in the inner ear known as the cochlea, according to a study that was just published in the Journal of Neuroscience.

24 Feb 2025

Gynecological conditions may raise risk of heart disease and stroke

Having one or more common gynecological disorders, such as endometriosis or heavy or irregular periods, may be linked to a heightened risk of heart disease and conditions that affect blood flow to the brain (cerebrovascular disease), finds a pooled data analysis of the available evidence published online in the journal Heart.

24 Feb 2025