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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 studies reveal hidden control hub for MYC-driven cancers

In a rare pair of papers published back-to-back in the journal Genes & Development, research teams led by senior author Anindya Bagchi, PhD, associate professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, establish a unified framework that governs one of cancer's most powerful master regulators.

19 Aug 2026

Paternal valproate use not linked to offspring neurodevelopmental risks

Use of the antiseizure drug valproate by fathers before conception is not associated with neurodevelopmental disorders like autism or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in their children, according to a new study published August 19, 2026, in Neurology®, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

19 Aug 2026

Colorectal tumors may damage nerves before chemotherapy

Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found that, in preclinical models of colorectal cancer, tumors can start damaging peripheral nerves before chemotherapy begins.

19 Aug 2026

Bladder infection amplifies cognitive problems after traumatic brain injury

A urinary tract infection that follows a moderate brain injury can worsen cognitive problems caused by the injury, new research in mice shows.

19 Aug 2026

World's largest single-site study maps brain changes under psilocybin

A landmark five-year study by Monash University has found psychedelics reorganise brain patterns, giving clinicians powerful new insights into their therapeutic potential.

19 Aug 2026

Real-world study shows Oregon psilocybin services relieve mental health symptoms

People participating in an Oregon Health & Science University-led study of state-regulated psilocybin services reported relief from symptoms of anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder - with almost two-thirds declaring the experience to be among the most meaningful of their life.

19 Aug 2026

Skull bone marrow contains immune hubs that fight brain cancer

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have discovered lymph node-like structures in the skull bone marrow of mice for the first time and demonstrated that they act as rapid first responders against brain cancer before distant lymph nodes get the signal that abnormal cells are present.

19 Aug 2026

Study evaluates questionnaire for screening lifelong face blindness

Recognizing a familiar face whether it's greeting a colleague or spotting a friend in the crowd, plays an important role in social interactions.

19 Aug 2026

New optical control platform blocks and restores neural signaling

DGIST (President Kunwoo Lee) announced that a research team led by Professor Ji Won Um of the Center for Synapse Diversity and Specificity, Department of Brain Sciences, in collaboration with a research team led by Professor Alice Ting at Stanford University, has developed LATeNT, a novel optical control platform that uses light to block signal transmission between neurons and subsequently restore normal signaling.

19 Aug 2026

International task force outlines roadmap for precision stroke recovery

An international task force co-led by a Georgetown University stroke expert has outlined a bold new roadmap for stroke recovery, positioning genetic and blood biomarkers to drive the next generation of precision neuro-rehabilitation and biotherapy.

19 Aug 2026

Global study reveals brain injury prevention lies far outside hospitals

Tens of millions of people suffer from traumatic brain injury every year worldwide, with almost 5 million deaths. Yet when it comes to improving clinical outcomes, new research suggests the solution lies far outside hospital operating rooms.

19 Aug 2026

Re:Cognition Health launches first dedicated Alzheimer's disease-modifying treatment clinic in Ireland

Re:Cognition Health, the UK's largest independent provider of Alzheimer's disease-modifying treatments, announces the opening of its first Irish clinic in Dublin, marking a major milestone in dementia care for Ireland.

19 Aug 2026

Brain changes detect Alzheimer's seven years before plaques appear

A new study suggests that Alzheimer's disease may be detected by brain imaging more than seven years earlier than previously assumed. Researchers from the Department of Psychology at the University of Oslo led the study, published in Nature Neuroscience.

19 Aug 2026

Estrogen fluctuations reshape brain connections, new study finds

A new study out of the University of Delaware shows that fluctuations in estrogen influence the brain, helping reshape connections between neurons.

18 Aug 2026

Early-onset epilepsy tied to lower academic achievement

Childhood epilepsy is linked to significantly poorer exam grades and long term educational attainment, with the lowest levels of academic prowess among those whose neurological disorder started when they were very young, finds a large, long term Danish study, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.

18 Aug 2026

Leisure-time exercise linked to lower dementia risk

For years, scientists have known that regular physical activity can help lower the risk of dementia. But new USC research suggests that it's not only the amount but also the activity's context - for work or for leisure - that makes a difference.

18 Aug 2026

Racism shapes grief and bereavement experiences, major UK study finds

Racism directly impacts how people experience grief and bereavement, according to the largest study of its kind.

18 Aug 2026

Paying attention to your body may change how an acute skin inflammation unfolds

Voluntary attention to inflammation-related bodily sensations reduced the magnitude of histamine-induced skin inflammation and promoted faster resolution compared with distraction in healthy adults. The findings point to complementary sensory-dependent and top-down autonomic pathways, although the precise neural and immune mechanisms remain unresolved.

18 Aug 2026

UC Irvine researchers develop framework to make CAR T-cell therapy safer

CAR T-cell therapy has transformed cancer care, offering new hope to patients with aggressive blood cancers who once had few treatment options.

18 Aug 2026

Shifting expectations of unpredictability could help treat schizophrenia delusions

New research has found that improvements to the severity of delusions in patients with schizophrenia-spectrum disorder recovering from an acute psychotic episode were significantly associated with reductions in volatility priors—someone's expectations about the unpredictability of their environment.

18 Aug 2026