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.

Chemogenetic activation reveals male-female differences in stress resistance neural circuits

Subtle activation of a small subset of neurons in one region of the brain can make male mice resilient to, and even reverse, the detrimental effects of chronic stress. The same is true for female mice, but in a totally different region of the brain.

19 Dec 2024

Study shows chatbots’ cognitive limitations using dementia screening

Almost all leading large language models or "chatbots" show signs of mild cognitive impairment in tests widely used to spot early signs of dementia, finds a study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

19 Dec 2024

Social and mentally stimulating activities benefit cognitive function

It’s that time of the year when most of us get the chance to sit back and enjoy some well-deserved down time. But whether you reach for the TV controller, or a favourite book, your choice could have implications for your long-term brain health, say researchers at the University of South Australia.

19 Dec 2024

Australian researchers discover potential lifeline for premature babies

Australian researchers have discovered a potential new lifeline for the tiniest and most vulnerable newborns. Scientists at Monash Children's Hospital have successfully collected and reinfused umbilical cord blood cells in extremely premature babies, offering a glimmer of hope for preventing brain injuries.

18 Dec 2024

Study reveals how sleep misalignment affects mood and mental health

Sleep schedules are often one of the first things that people choose to compromise in order to check everything off their to-do lists, especially with the end of the year approaching. But folks hoping for happy holidays should reconsider.

18 Dec 2024

Study reveals link between dyslexia genes and brain structure

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty in which genes often play a role. How do genes associated with dyslexia relate to brain structure in the general population? In a large-scale study published in Science Advances, a team of scientists led by the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen found that genetic variants that increase the chance of dyslexia were associated with differences in brain areas involved in motor coordination, vision, and language.

18 Dec 2024

Hippocampal inflammation affects behavior differently in males and females

Inflammation in the hippocampus – the brain's memory centre – significantly alters motivation and behavior in mice, including food-seeking behaviour, with notable differences between males and females, a recent study reveals.

18 Dec 2024

Sleep disruptions may increase brain volume in the hippocampus

People with breathing problems during sleep may have a larger hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for memory and thinking, according to a study published in the December 18, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

18 Dec 2024

Study finds no link between antibiotic use and cognitive decline in older adults

For healthy older adults, using antibiotics is not associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment or dementia, according to a study published in the December 18, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

18 Dec 2024

Structural sexism may accelerate memory decline in women

Women born in the most sexist U.S. states experience faster memory decline in later years compared to women born in the least sexist states, a new study by researchers at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has found.

18 Dec 2024

Space experiment shows faster maturation of brain organoids in microgravity

Microgravity is known to alter the muscles, bones, the immune system and cognition, but little is known about its specific impact on the brain.

18 Dec 2024

Modified lipid nanoparticles for targeted mRNA delivery to the brain

Penn Engineers have modified lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) - the revolutionary technology behind the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines - to not only cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) but also to target specific types of cells, including neurons.

18 Dec 2024

Plymouth researchers lead initiative to advance the study of meningiomas in NF2-SWN

Researchers at the University of Plymouth are leading an innovative initiative to advance the study of meningiomas in NF2-related schwannomatosis (NF2-SWN).

18 Dec 2024

Brain tumors exploit body's daily rhythms to fuel growth

Scientists explore how daily glucocorticoid signaling influences glioblastoma growth and synchronizes its circadian rhythms with the host.

18 Dec 2024

Breakthrough discovery opens doors for targeting adhesion GPCRs with drugs

Almost 35% of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration work by targeting G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), proteins embedded in cell membranes that allow cells to communicate with each other.

18 Dec 2024

Nutraceuticals: exploring potential benefits and challenges of an unregulated healthcare frontier

Nutraceuticals offer potential health benefits, from migraine relief to cognitive support, but safety and regulatory issues must be addressed for effective use.

18 Dec 2024

Too much screen time harms preschoolers' sleep, fueling attention, mood, and hyperactivity issues

Researchers examine how screen time affects behavioral issues in preschool children and whether sleep quality mediates this relationship.

18 Dec 2024

Taxi and ambulance drivers show reduced Alzheimer’s mortality

Taxi drivers and ambulance drivers, whose jobs require frequent spatial and navigational processing, have the lowest levels of death due to Alzheimer's disease compared with other occupations, finds a study in the Christmas issue of The BMJ.

18 Dec 2024

Researchers discover weakness in bacterial machinery that drives antibiotic resistance

Superbugs, bacteria that are immune to multiple antibiotics, pose a great challenge to modern medicine. Researchers from the B CUBE - Center for Molecular Bioengineering at TUD Dresden University of Technology and Institut Pasteur in Paris identified a weakness in the bacterial machinery that drives antibiotic resistance adaptation.

17 Dec 2024

Thalamus damage plays key role in long-term stroke disability

A recent study from Simon Fraser University researchers has revealed how an overlooked type of indirect brain damage contributes to ongoing disability after a stroke.

17 Dec 2024