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.

Researchers create high-performance artificial neurons for advanced perception systems

Artificially engineered biological processes, such as perception systems, remain an elusive target for organic electronics experts due to the reliance of human senses on an adaptive network of sensory neurons, which communicate by firing in response to environmental stimuli.

30 Jan 2025

University of Oklahoma researcher leads efforts to unravel mysteries of cognitive decline

An estimated 76,000 Oklahomans are living with Alzheimer's disease, a number that has surged by 13% in just five years. Yet, despite the increasing need for effective treatments, therapies for age-related dementia have largely failed to slow or halt the disease's progression.

29 Jan 2025

Study reveals how glial cells respond to damage in neuron dendrites

Neurons may get all the glory, but they would be nothing without glial cells. While brain cells do the heavy lifting in the nervous system, it's the glia that provide nutrients, clean up waste, and protect neurons from harm.

29 Jan 2025

Map highlights diagnosis gaps for deadly CNS infections in HIV patients in Africa

A map of deadly infectious diseases known to attack the central nervous system (CNS) of people who are already suffering with HIV has unearthed diagnosis "blank spots" in Africa, according to research published today in The Lancet Global Health .

29 Jan 2025

Is juicing good for your gut? Research shows surprising microbiome changes

Short-term fruit and vegetable juicing causes microbial shifts in the oral and gut microbiome, but these changes are mostly transient and return to baseline after 14 days.

29 Jan 2025

Fluctuating cholesterol linked to higher risk of dementia in older adults

Older adults whose cholesterol changes over time may be more likely to develop dementia than people whose cholesterol is stable, regardless of the actual cholesterol level, according to a study published in the January 29, 2025, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

29 Jan 2025

Weekly diabetes injection could replace daily shots for lipodystrophy patients

Rutgers Health researchers have found that a weekly injection of diabetes medication could replace painful daily hormone shots for people with a rare genetic form of lipodystrophy that leaves patients with almost zero fat tissue, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine.

29 Jan 2025

Mayo Clinic researchers create organoid models for uveal melanoma study

Mayo Clinic researchers have developed organoid models to study uveal melanoma, one of the most common types of eye cancer in adults.

29 Jan 2025

Can an online lifestyle plan keep your brain sharp? Research says yes

"Maintain Your Brain" study shows how a tailored online program can improve cognition and lower dementia risk—discover how simple lifestyle changes could protect your brain as you age.

29 Jan 2025

Study identifies potential gain of function mutation in retinoblastoma

A new research paper was published in Volume 16 of Genes & Cancer on January 20, 2025, entitled, "Analysis of pathogenic variants in retinoblastoma reveals a potential gain of function mutation."

29 Jan 2025

Study aims to explore structural alterations in the brains of people with bipolar disorder

A new study, led by USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute (Stevens INI), will explore structural alterations in the brains of people with bipolar disorder (BD), a chronic mental illness with one of the highest rates of attempted suicide - and for which no biological tools currently exist to guide diagnosis or treatment.

29 Jan 2025

Prolonged REM sleep latency linked to Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers

Research indicates longer REM latency is associated with higher Alzheimer's biomarkers, pointing to its potential as an early indicator of neurodegeneration.

29 Jan 2025

Swedish study reveals gaps in pain management for preterm infants

Research on pain in preterm infants shows frequent painful procedures and inadequate pain management, emphasizing the need for better assessment strategies.

29 Jan 2025

Discovery could contribute to the development of new drugs for transthyretin amyloidosis

The tiny protein known as transthyretin can cause big problems in the body when it misfolds after secretion.

29 Jan 2025

Researchers identify brain circuit to reduce anxiety without side effects

Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have identified in a preclinical model a specific brain circuit whose inhibition appears to reduce anxiety without side effects.

28 Jan 2025

Study explores the effects of recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function

A new study published today in JAMA Network Open explores the effects of both recent and lifetime cannabis use on brain function during cognitive tasks.

28 Jan 2025

AI technology uncovers genetic factors and treatment options for Parkinson's

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Genome Center have successfully applied advanced artificial intelligence (AI) genetics models to Parkinson's disease. Researchers identified genetic factors in progression and FDA-approved drugs that can potentially be repurposed for PD treatment.

28 Jan 2025