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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.

Hearing aids may lower dementia risk in adults with epilepsy and hearing loss

Adults with both epilepsy and hearing loss who use hearing aids may have a 23% lower risk of developing dementia than those who do not, according to new research presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2026.

26 Jun 2026

Varicella-zoster virus inflicts lasting damage to nerves and the brain, study reveals

For millions worldwide, herpes zoster pain does not end when the rash fades. Postherpetic neuralgia can last for years or even a lifetime, devastating quality of life.

26 Jun 2026

Breastfeeding up to six months linked to lower ADHD risk

A new study from the University of Bergen shows an association between breastfeeding up to six months of age and a reduced risk of ADHD symptoms from ages three to eight.

26 Jun 2026

Breastfeeding linked to longer sleep duration in one year old infants

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life because of its many proven benefits, including protection against infections and support for healthy long-term development.

26 Jun 2026

Targeting specific immune pathways could prevent severe reperfusion injury

IRI is a shared pathological process in myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, acute kidney injury, lung injury, and graft dysfunction after transplantation.

26 Jun 2026

Longer hormone exposure linked to healthier brain aging in women

Research indicates that hormonal therapies and later menopause are associated with increased brain volume and thickness, promoting healthier aging.

26 Jun 2026

Scientists find link between bacterium in the gut ecosystem and lupus

Scientists at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, found a link between a bacterium in the gut microbiome, or ecosystem, and lupus, which could lead to more effective treatment of the disease, in a study published in Nature Communications.

25 Jun 2026

Cone opsin structures offer insights into vision loss

The retina of the human eye contains six to seven million cone cells. These cells contain light-sensitive proteins known as cone opsins.

25 Jun 2026

Experts urge neglected tropical disease status for ocular toxoplasmosis

One third of the world's population is infected with the Toxoplasma parasite, which can cause ocular toxoplasmosis, an eye infection that can damage the retina and result in permanent vision loss.

25 Jun 2026

Blood metabolites reveal lifestyle links to brain health before dementia

Blood metabolome profiling in dementia-free middle-aged adults linked 14 metabolites to cognition and 22 metabolites to MRI markers of brain health. Lifestyle, clinical factors, medication use and gut microbiota appeared to shape many of these metabolites, with ergothioneine emerging as a notable cognition-linked signal.

25 Jun 2026

Iron overload gradually increases neurons' vulnerability to neurodegeneration

Neurodegenerative diseases affect tens of millions of people worldwide. Among these, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases are the most common; in the United States alone, the Alzheimer's Disease Association and Parkinson's Foundation report roughly 7 million people with Alzheimer's and another million with Parkinson's.

25 Jun 2026

Dogs could transform the future of autism drug development

For thirty years the search for autism medicines has hit the same wall, and a new peer-reviewed Perspective in Genomic Psychiatry suggests that the way around it has been sleeping at our feet the entire time.

25 Jun 2026

Good oral health could improve athletic performance

Millions of fans around the world will be glued to screens in the coming weeks to watch remarkable displays of speed, precision and endurance in the world's most important football competition.

25 Jun 2026

Chronic stress helps tumors evade immune attack through gut microbes

Chronic psychological stress can help tumors evade immune attack through a chain of molecular events involving gut bacteria and viruses within those bacteria, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

25 Jun 2026

Discovery of karyoptosis opens new therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia

Markers of a new mechanism for cell death, called karyoptosis, have been found in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

25 Jun 2026

High-dose DHA reaches the brain but fails to protect memory

High-dose DHA effectively increased brain levels in older adults at Alzheimer's risk, but did not lead to cognitive or structural brain health improvements.

25 Jun 2026

Blueberries may boost children's memory and mood

Research suggests blueberry compounds could enhance mood and cognitive function in children, yet stronger evidence is required for clinical recommendations.

25 Jun 2026

Recognizing perinatal heart failure early reduces life-threatening risks

Early detection and timely treatment of heart failure in pregnant or postpartum women are crucial to prevent serious complications, such as irregular heartbeat, stroke and death, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement, "Heart Failure Occurring in the Perinatal Period."

25 Jun 2026

Maternal blood test reveals prenatal methylation clues linked to autism risk

Researchers found that maternal plasma cell-free DNA methylation patterns in late pregnancy were associated with later autism diagnosis and maternal obesity in a high-likelihood ASD cohort. The findings suggest cfDNA may offer a minimally invasive way to study prenatal epigenetic changes linked to neurodevelopmental risk, but larger validation studies are needed.

25 Jun 2026

Genetic testing could sharply increase demand for ALS specialist care

The availability of genetic testing for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for people with a family member diagnosed with the disease is expected to greatly increase the number of clinic visits to specialized ALS centers over the next decade, according to a study published June 24, 2026, in Neurology Genetics, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

24 Jun 2026