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 unlock potential of light-controlled cellular activities

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute PSI have succeeded in elucidating the structure of specific photoreceptors.

25 Oct 2024

Semaglutide may reduce Alzheimer's risk in diabetics

Researchers use real-world data in the United States to evaluate the protective role of semaglutide against Alzherimer’s disease.

25 Oct 2024

Daily internet use supercharges your memory!

Frequent internet use is linked to improved episodic memory, with daily users performing better in memory tasks than those who use it less often. The study suggests digital engagement may enhance cognitive abilities over time.

24 Oct 2024

Daily pistachio consumption linked to improved eye health

A new study from researchers at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University has found that consuming pistachios daily may significantly improve eye health by increasing macular pigment optical density (MPOD), due to the plant pigment lutein, a key factor in protecting the eyes from blue (visible) light and age-related damage.

24 Oct 2024

Study links gut bacteria infection to Alzheimer's disease progression

A groundbreaking study by researchers at Florida State University's Gut Biome Lab has revealed a potential link between an infection caused by gut bacteria and the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

24 Oct 2024

Mechanisms of neurogenesis after stroke revealed

Researchers at the University of Freiburg have studied what happens immediately after a stroke in the stem cell niche known as the subventricular zone, using a mouse model.

24 Oct 2024

Research uncovers new insights into neuronal aging and rejuvenation

When a neuron ages, it loses synaptic connections with other neurons, it is less able to transmit nerve impulses, and its metabolism is also altered. This process of neuronal aging — inevitable with the passing of time — is particularly accelerated and becomes a risk factor in neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease.

24 Oct 2024

Study reveals hormone receptors' role in brain health and neuroprotection

In a comprehensive review published in the October 2024 issue of Genomic Psychiatry, researchers have unveiled crucial insights into how two types of hormone receptors collaborate to maintain brain health and potentially prevent neurodegenerative diseases.

24 Oct 2024

Brain aging may hold the key to predicting Alzheimer’s risk

Research reveals advanced brain aging in older adults correlates with cognitive decline and Alzheimer's risk, highlighting the need for early intervention.

24 Oct 2024

Semaglutide may lower Alzheimer's risk in type 2 diabetes patients

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine have found that, when compared to seven other anti-diabetic drugs, semaglutide, a popular diabetes and weight-loss drug, may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

24 Oct 2024

Sleep deprivation in early life increases autism risk

Sleep deprivation in adults has long been proven to cause long-term mental and physical health issues, including, but not limited to, weakened immune systems, weight gain, depression, and increased risk of dementia.

24 Oct 2024

Deletion of long non-coding RNA linked to rare neurodevelopmental disorder

When a gene produces too much protein, it can have devastating consequences on brain development and function. Patients with an overproduction of protein from the chromodomain helicase DNA binding (CHD2) gene can develop a rare and severe neurodevelopmental disorder that renders them wheelchair-bound, nonverbal and with profound intellectual delays.

24 Oct 2024

Researchers create mini-brains to study autism and test new treatments

Using stem cells generated from patients with a rare and severe form of autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability, Scripps Research scientists have grown personalized "mini-brains" (or organoids) to study the disorder in new detail.

23 Oct 2024

Novel device may rescue people from overdose without bystander help

The opioid epidemic claims more 70,000 lives each year in the U.S., and lifesaving interventions are urgently needed.

23 Oct 2024

Healthy habits in middle age may protect against neurological conditions

In middle-aged people, having risk factors like blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol that are not well-controlled combined with not following certain healthy habits including exercise, diet and sleep, are linked to a higher risk of stroke, dementia or depression later in life, according to a study published in the October 23, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Oct 2024

Poor sleep quality linked to increased brain aging in middle age

People in early middle age who have poor sleep quality, including having difficulty falling or staying asleep, have more signs of poor brain health in late middle age, according to a study published in the October 23, 2024, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

23 Oct 2024

Study reveals innovative treatment for narcolepsy-related nightmares

A new Northwestern Medicine study has demonstrated a new way to treat narcolepsy-related nightmares.

23 Oct 2024

Multiple courses of penicillin antibiotics linked to lower risk of Parkinson's disease

A Rutgers Health study has found that people who took multiple courses of penicillin antibiotics had a modestly lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a surprising finding that researchers say highlights the complex relationship between bacteria in the digestive tract and brain health.

23 Oct 2024

Breakthrough research reveals neural basis of eating behavior

Speaking, singing, coughing, laughing, yelling, yawning, chewing - we use our jaws for many purposes. Each action requires a complex coordination of muscles whose activity is managed by neurons in the brain.

23 Oct 2024

A California official helped save a mental health company’s contract. It flew him to London.

The director of California's mental health commission traveled to London this summer courtesy of a state vendor while he was helping to prevent a $360 million budget cut that would have defunded the company's contract.

23 Oct 2024