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.

High blood sugar impairs brain health even without diabetes

A study by Baycrest found that high blood sugar may impair brain health even in people without diabetes.

3 Dec 2024

Baycrest study discovers role of thalamus in post-stroke recovery

A recent study by Baycrest reveals that an area of the brain distinct from the stroke lesion may play a significant role in causing the life-altering symptoms survivors are often left with, which can include severe challenges with speech, mobility and cognition.

3 Dec 2024

Study sheds light on brain circuit behind auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia

Voice experiments in people with epilepsy have helped trace the circuit of electrical signals in the brain that allow its hearing center to sort out background sounds from their own voices.

3 Dec 2024

Loss of empathy in frontotemporal dementia linked to brain activity changes

Patients with frontotemporal dementia often lack the ability to empathize. A study at Karolinska Institutet has now shown that these patients do not show the same brain activity as healthy individuals when they witness the pain of others, a finding that it is hoped will increase understanding of this specific dementia disease.

3 Dec 2024

Scientists aim to identify the most effective TBS protocols for treating schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, which is characterized by positive symptoms (e.g., hallucinations and delusions), negative symptoms (diminished emotional expressions or avolition), and cognitive impairments (attention deficits and poor learning skills), is a serious mental health condition that affects how individuals think, behave, and perceive the world.

3 Dec 2024

Gut microbes may have helped human ancestors develop larger brains

Brain tissue is among the most energetically costly in the body, and as a result, larger-brained mammals require more energy to support brain growth and maintenance.

3 Dec 2024

Lifestyle choices and cognitive health linked to future dementia risk

The risk of developing dementia later in life is strongly predicted by a person's cognitive ability, functional limitations and physical health as many as 20 years before onset of the illness, according to a new RAND report.

3 Dec 2024

Skeletal muscle loss linked to increased risk of dementia

Skeletal muscle loss is a risk factor for developing dementia, according to a study being presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

3 Dec 2024

Research sheds light on how mutated PSEN2 accelerates familial Alzheimer's disease progression

Alzheimer's disease is a debilitating condition that slowly robs people of their memory and cognitive abilities, affecting millions of people worldwide.

3 Dec 2024

Brain scan could predict success of spinal surgery for chronic pain

A 10-minute brain scan can predict the effectiveness of a risky spinal surgery to alleviate intractable pain. The Kobe University result gives doctors a much-needed biomarker to discuss with patients considering spinal cord stimulation.

3 Dec 2024

Peptidomimetics as a new strategy to modulate Aurora-A and combat cancer

A new approach to targeting a protein involved in cell division, which can misfunction in cancer, has revealed new insights into how it functions.

3 Dec 2024

Ketone metabolism redefines protein quality control in aging brains

Ketone bodies, produced by the body to provide fuel during fasting, have roles in regulating cellular processes and aging mechanisms beyond energy production. Research at the Buck Institute shows that ketone bodies can best be understood as powerful signaling metabolites affecting brain function in aging and Alzheimer's disease.

3 Dec 2024

Biocompatible liquid ink enables scalp-printed electrodes for non-invasive EEG

For the first time, scientists have invented a liquid ink that doctors can print onto a patient's scalp to measure brain activity. The technology, presented December 2 in the Cell Press journal Cell Biomaterials, offers a promising alternative to the cumbersome process currently used for monitoring brainwaves and diagnosing neurological conditions. It also has the potential to enhance non-invasive brain-computer interface applications.

3 Dec 2024

New insights into anti-seizure medications during pregnancy

Two common antiseizure medications, lamotrigine and levetiracetam, are safe to use during pregnancy, according to a Stanford Medicine-led study.

3 Dec 2024

Short sleep and high blood pressure may increase brain damage

People with high blood pressure who also lack sleep may be at increased risk of reduced cognitive performance and greater brain injury, Monash University research has found.

2 Dec 2024

UK’s hearing loss organizations address misleading claims about dementia

The UK’s leading hearing loss organizations have joined forces to highlight misleading reports by some health professionals and the media that hearing loss causes dementia, and treating hearing loss will reduce our individual risk of dementia.

2 Dec 2024

CU Anschutz Medical Campus receives $46 million for blindness cure research

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus will receive up to $46 million from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) Transplantation of Human Eye Allografts (THEA) program to advance pioneering research aimed at curing total blindness through human eye transplantation.

2 Dec 2024

Hypothalamic deep brain stimulation restores walking after spinal cord injury

Scientists have identified neurons in the lateral hypothalamus that can be targeted through deep brain stimulation to improve walking after spinal cord injury (SCI). This innovative approach shows promise in both animal models and initial human trials, paving the way for groundbreaking treatments.

2 Dec 2024

Study reveals how stem cells sense and respond to their environment

A new study from The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Institut Curie reveals how stem cells sense and respond to their environment, with implications for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.

2 Dec 2024

Hypothalamic DBS therapy improves recovery of lower limb movements after spinal cord injury

Researchers at EPFL and Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), led by professors Grégoire Courtine and Jocelyne Bloch, have achieved a major milestone in the treatment of spinal cord injuries (SCI).

2 Dec 2024