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.

EEG reveals how coffee may secretly lower sleep quality

Evening coffee has sparked controversy for years. Some people fall asleep without difficulty, while others toss and turn for half the night.

27 May 2026

Poor lipid metabolism may reduce cognitive performance in teens

A new Finnish study shows that blood markers of dysfunctional lipid metabolism are associated with poorer cognitive function in 15-17-year-olds.

27 May 2026

Deep learning model predicts vascular cognitive impairment from brain scans

The team built a DenseNet – a densely connected convolutional neural network – that learns hierarchical features directly from raw DTI volumes.

26 May 2026

Study links fathers’ preconception stress to altered offspring development

Research from the University of Colorado Anschutz suggests that stress experienced by a father before conception may influence an offspring's growth by altering small molecular signals in sperm.

26 May 2026

Urine test may help identify autism risk in children

A simple urine test may help identify children at risk for autism sooner than current assessments - opening the door for earlier diagnosis and treatment, and better long-term outcomes for children who do have autism spectrum disorder.

26 May 2026

Early multidisciplinary care speeds concussion recovery in children

Children recover significantly faster from concussion after receiving early, multidisciplinary care designed to treat persistent symptoms, according to a new study.

26 May 2026

Special yoga intervention helps cancer survivors manage psychological side effects

University of Rochester Medicine is in the spotlight at a national meeting for a new discovery in integrative oncology: A special yoga intervention, the study shows, goes a step further than other side-effect therapies to improve four domains of physical and psychological side effects that most patients experience, including lifting mood and easing anxiety.

26 May 2026

Scientists target root of relapse in aggressive childhood brain tumors

Stopping cancer from coming back is the goal of new research from MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, where scientists are targeting cells that fuel the return of an aggressive pediatric brain tumor.

26 May 2026

Blood proteins can predict multiple sclerosis years before diagnosis

A new study has revealed a group of blood proteins, that are altered in people who go on to develop multiple sclerosis (MS), in some cases more than a decade before diagnosis.

26 May 2026

Estrogen decline alters brain cell matrix in older females

A largely overlooked space between cells in women's brains may hold the key to understanding memory loss tied to estrogen decline after menopause, reports a new preclinical Northwestern Medicine study.

26 May 2026

Neural progenitor timing influences formation of distinct brain layers

The outer regions of the brain, the cortex, have specific layers of different cells - neurons - that are similarly ordered among all mammals, from tiny mouse brains to huge elephant brains.

26 May 2026

Roswell Park scientists present five key cancer studies at clinical meeting

The research findings of experts from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center will be featured during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting May 29 to June 2 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

25 May 2026

Targeted nerve stimulation boosts movement-related brain activity in humans

The vagus nerve connects the brain to major organs throughout the body and plays important roles in many bodily functions.

25 May 2026

Small non-coding RNA molecule precisely controls vital gene expression and cellular balance

A rapidly advancing area of biomedical innovation is shining a spotlight on miR-128-3p, a small yet powerful molecule with the potential to reshape how diseases—especially cancer—are detected, monitored, and treated. This microRNA, part of a broader class of non-coding RNAs, plays a critical role in regulating gene activity and maintaining cellular homeostasis.

25 May 2026

Yoga and meditation show promise for gut health

This systematic review found that yoga and Buddhist meditation were associated with favorable gut microbiota and metabolite profiles in four human studies involving healthy adults. However, because participants largely followed vegetarian or vegan diets and no randomized controlled trials were included, the findings cannot prove that meditation alone reshapes the gut microbiome.

24 May 2026

Gum disease pathogen may drive Alzheimer’s through microglial ferroptosis pathway

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, is projected to affect 152 million individuals worldwide by 2050; yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood and effective treatments are lacking.

24 May 2026

Shared humor and play strengthen children’s brains and emotional wellbeing

Making children laugh can build deep emotional connections and soothe their nervous systems, making them more resilient and open to new ideas, a leading child development expert tells us.

24 May 2026

Psilocybin may provide long-lasting relief from chronic nerve pain

A single dose of psilocybin - the active compound in magic mushrooms - reduces nerve pain for up to a month and makes a widely used painkiller work more effectively, University of Reading research has found.

22 May 2026

Brain functional differences reflect anatomy, lifestyle, and environmental influences

As neuroscience strives for generalizability and equity, understanding human brain diversity across populations is crucial.

22 May 2026

University of Ottawa study links heart attacks with brain damage

A new study led by a team from the University of Ottawa takes a major step forward in understanding how a heart attack can dramatically reshape brain function and trigger neurological effects, from depression and anxiety to different types of cognitive decline.

22 May 2026