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.

Unlocking the neural basis of overeating

Can memory influence what and how much we eat? A groundbreaking Monell Chemical Senses Center study, which links food memory to overeating, answered that question with a resounding "Yes." Led by Monell Associate Member Guillaume de Lartigue, PhD, the research team identified, for the first time, the brain's food-specific memory system and its direct role in overeating and diet-induced obesity.

16 Jan 2025

Exercise offers hope in the Alzheimer's battle

Regular aerobic exercise could significantly reduce disease markers associated with Alzheimer's, new research led by scientists at the University of Bristol (UK) and the Federal University of São Paulo (Brazil) has found. The findings provide new hope in the battle against this devastating disorder.

16 Jan 2025

Grifols receives grant for early Parkinson's disease biomarker discovery

Grifols, a global healthcare company and leading producer of plasma-derived medicines, today announced it has received a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) to identify plasma-based biomarkers that could indicate a person’s likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease (PD) many years before clinical diagnosis.

15 Jan 2025

Eating greater quantities of red meat may increase risk of dementia

Red meat consumption is an established risk factor for chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

15 Jan 2025

New AI model offers hope for detecting brain cancer spread without surgery

Researchers have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model to detect the spread of metastatic brain cancer using MRI scans, offering insights into patients' cancer without aggressive surgery.

15 Jan 2025

Study explores cancer risks of hormonal contraceptives

Many women worry hormonal contraceptives have dangerous side-effects including increased cancer risk. But this perception is often out of proportion with the actual risks.

15 Jan 2025

New compounds show promise in treating retinitis pigmentosa

Two new compounds may be able to treat retinitis pigmentosa, a group of inherited eye diseases that cause blindness.

15 Jan 2025

New genetic risk factors for depression identified across global populations

New genetic risk factors for depression have been identified across all major global populations for the first time, allowing scientists to predict risk of depression regardless of ethnicity.

15 Jan 2025

New gene-editing treatment extends lifespan in mice with prion disease

Researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have developed a gene-editing treatment for prion disease that extends lifespan by about 50 percent in a mouse model of the fatal neurodegenerative condition.

15 Jan 2025

Study finds no increased glioma risk with hormone therapy use

It's not easy being a woman. Just look at the statistics. Women are more likely to have such debilitating conditions as osteoporosis, migraines, Alzheimer disease, depression, multiple sclerosis, and brain tumors. Sex hormones are often blamed. However, a new study suggests no link between hormone therapy (HT) and common brain tumors known as gliomas. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

15 Jan 2025

Machine learning identifies women at risk of severe cognitive decline during menopause

Artificial intelligence (AI) is positioned to make a major impact on almost every industry, including healthcare. A new study suggests that machine learning models can more quickly and affordably identify women with severe subjective cognitive decline during the menopause transition, effectively opening the door to better management of cognitive health. Results of the study are published online today in Menopause, the journal of The Menopause Society.

15 Jan 2025

Uncovering the neurobiological mechanisms of delta opioid receptor agonists

The global burden of anxiety- and depression-related disorders is on the rise. While multiple drugs have been developed to treat these conditions, current medications have several limitations, including slow action and adverse effects with long-term use. This underscores the urgent need for novel, rapidly-acting therapeutic agents with minimal side effects.

15 Jan 2025

Dementia risk impacts family planning decisions

Living in a family where there is genetic risk for dementia significantly affects choices about having children and how to parent, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

15 Jan 2025

Study uncovers mechanism for cognitive improvement in dementia

A University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) study proves that the WIN55.212-2 drug protects the brain and reverses the initial cognitive damage caused by dementia, and explains how it works

15 Jan 2025

High-fat diet linked to impulsive behaviors and brain changes

Researchers examines how a high-fat diet modifies inhibitory control.

14 Jan 2025

Genetics, brain development, and mental health shape teen eating

Investigating the interplay of genetics, brain maturation, and mental health, this study reveals insights into adolescent eating behaviors and obesity risk.

14 Jan 2025

Retina vascular fingerprint offers non-invasive way to predict stroke risk

A vascular 'fingerprint' on the light sensitive tissue layer at the back of the eye-the retina-can predict a person's risk of stroke as accurately as traditional risk factors alone, but without the need for multiple invasive lab tests, finds research published online in the journal Heart.

13 Jan 2025

COVID-19 infection linked to increased cases of ME/CFS

New findings from the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative suggest that infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, may be associated with an increase in the number of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) cases.

13 Jan 2025

Blood vessel dysfunction in brain's temporal lobes linked to mild cognitive impairment

Mild cognitive impairment is linked to blood vessel dysfunction in the brain's temporal lobes - the seat of memory - according to a new USC-led study.

13 Jan 2025

Study reveals route of entry for Semliki Forest virus into the brain

In a recent study, researchers from Uppsala University show that the Semliki Forest virus enters the central nervous system by first entering the cerebrospinal fluid and then binding to a specific cell type before penetrating deeper into the brain.

13 Jan 2025