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.

New insights into leptin's role in hypothalamic neural circuit development

Researchers from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Basic Sciences have uncovered the first example of activity-dependent development of hypothalamic neural circuitry.

25 Nov 2024

How neural and hormonal gut-brain communication shapes metabolism and health

Interoception research reveals how gut-brain communication via neural, hormonal, and microbial pathways regulates metabolism, hunger, and overall health, offering insights for therapeutic innovations.

25 Nov 2024

New therapy from UI Health becomes the first FDA-approved treatment for brittle type 1 diabetes

A new therapy for brittle type 1 diabetes, the only treatment currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, is available exclusively at UI Health in Chicago.

25 Nov 2024

New brain biomarker could enable early diagnosis of psychosis

The current standard of care for psychosis is a diagnostic interview, but what if it could be diagnosed before the first symptom emerged? Researchers at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience at the University of Rochester are pointing toward a potential biomarker in the brain that could lead to more timely interventions and personalized care.

25 Nov 2024

Dopamine and serotonin balance reward learning in opposing ways

If you've heard of two of the brain's chemical neurotransmitters, it's probably dopamine and serotonin. Never mind that glutamate and GABA do most of the work - it's the thrill of dopamine as the "pleasure chemical" and serotonin as tender mood-stabilizer that attract all the headlines.

25 Nov 2024

New discovery in the peripheral nervous system could help control obesity

An international team of researchers has discovered a new component of the peripheral nervous system that acts by increasing energy metabolism in the body.

25 Nov 2024

Knowing your family health history is key to reducing heart attack or stroke risk

Research shows that as much as half of your risk for heart disease can come from your family genes. Experts from the American Heart Association, celebrating a century of lifesaving service as the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, say knowing your family health history is an important step to reducing your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

25 Nov 2024

Researchers identify brain circuit behind sexual rejection in females

A team from the Champalimaud Foundation (CF) has pinpointed a critical neural circuit for sexual rejection, identifying a set of brain cells that play a crucial role in determining whether a female accepts or rejects mating attempts based on her reproductive cycle.

25 Nov 2024

Brain volume loss linked to Alzheimer's treatment may be caused by amyloid plaque removal

A loss of brain volume associated with new immunotherapies for Alzheimer's disease may be caused by the removal of amyloid plaques, rather than the loss of neurons or brain tissue, finds a study led by UCL researchers.

25 Nov 2024

Robust measures developed to study how social determinants influence spinal cord injury outcomes

Kessler Foundation researchers have developed robust measures of neighborhood economic factors to study how social determinants influence health outcomes after spinal cord injury (SCI).

25 Nov 2024

Hamilton and Amabel James Center for AI and Human Health launches at Mount Sinai

Today, the Mount Sinai Health System, one of New York City's largest academic medical systems, announced the opening of the Hamilton and Amabel James Center for Artificial Intelligence and Human Health, which is dedicated to enhancing health care delivery through the research, development, and application of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

25 Nov 2024

New study offers insights into reliable Alzheimer's diagnosis

A research group at LMU University Hospital has investigated how Alzheimer's disease can be diagnosed more reliably in the future.

25 Nov 2024

Groundbreaking research sheds light on mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome

Mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome (MTDPS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a marked decrease in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA).

25 Nov 2024

Research identifies the brain's 'locus coeruleus' as key player in sleep cycles

Researchers at the University of Lausanne have identified a novel role for the brain's 'locus coeruleus' in sleep and its disruptions.

25 Nov 2024

Researchers develop new approach to effectively deliver therapeutics into the brain

Researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have developed an innovative approach - demonstrated in mouse models and isolated human brain tissue - to safely and effectively deliver therapeutics into the brain, providing new possibilities for treating a wide range of neurological and psychiatric diseases.

25 Nov 2024

Study reveals acute impact of smoking and vaping on vascular function

Researchers have identified acute effects of cigarette and e-cigarette smoking on vascular function, even without nicotine.

25 Nov 2024

Groundbreaking method profiles gene activity in the living brain

A groundbreaking method to profile gene activity in the living human brain has been developed by researchers at FutureNeuro, the Research Ireland Centre for Translational Brain Science and RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, in collaboration with international partners.

25 Nov 2024