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.

First human endothelial cell atlas maps how blood vessels age

To uncover how endothelial cells, the inner linings of blood vessels. change over the course of a lifespan, an international research team led by Laura de Rooij at the CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences has created the Human Aging Endothelial Cell Atlas, the first comprehensive atlas of vascular aging.

27 Oct 2026

Blocking cellular communication reduces the spread of deadly glioblastoma

In a new study published in Cancer Cell, researchers at VIB-KU Leuven reduced the spread of glioblastoma by interrupting specific interactions between the brain's immune cells and tumor cells.

27 Oct 2026

Rutgers study links prenatal wildfire smoke exposure to autism risk

A Rutgers-led analysis of health insurance records found that exposure to fine particles from wildfire smoke during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of autism diagnosis in children, with the strongest associations during the second and third trimesters.

27 Oct 2026

Noninvasive focused ultrasound offers hope for treating advanced Parkinson's

As Stan Au's Parkinson's disease symptoms progressed, everyday activities became daily battles. His hands shook so badly that he struggled to hold utensils and couldn't sign his name.

27 Oct 2026

LINAC-based radiosurgery effectively reduces seizures but causes significant side effects

Drug-resistant epilepsy types, such as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE), are surgically managed through anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL).

27 Oct 2026

Narcissistic brains show less consistent activation during shared embarrassment

People with more narcissistic traits had less consistent patterns of brain activation in real life-like scenarios involving another's loss of face––a finding that may help explain difficulties in their social interaction.

27 Oct 2026

Study identifies the amygdala as target for treating memory disorders

A walnut-sized area of the brain known as the amygdala plays a giant role in determining which experiences end up in long-term memory and which are forgotten.

27 Oct 2026

Evolutionary history reveals why brains connect to opposite bodies

Dr Martin Wessendorf is a neuroscientist and an associate professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota. His work focuses on how the brainstem controls the function of neurons in the spinal cord.

27 Oct 2026

Monash University study shows nurse-led program improves midlife dementia risk profiles

New research led by Monash University shows a multi-domain dementia risk reduction program delivered by general practice nurses can improve estimated dementia profiles in middle-aged adults, offering a practical new model for proactive brain health.

27 Oct 2026

Researchers decode speech rhythm from brain activity

New in JNeurosci, Pyry Heikkinen and colleagues, from the University of Helsinki, explored how emotional meaning influences the way the human brain prioritizes information during naturally spoken conversations in a cocktail party setting.

27 Oct 2026

Could a few days of annual extreme heat raise dementia risk?

Extreme outdoor heat is associated with higher dementia risk, especially in socially vulnerable areas, emphasizing the need for targeted community strategies.

27 Oct 2026

Cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy detects tumor DNA in complex brain cases

A Mayo Clinic study published in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology suggests that analyzing DNA in cerebrospinal fluid could provide another source of information when MRI cannot provide a clear brain tumor diagnosis or obtaining tissue through biopsy is difficult or potentially unsafe.

27 Oct 2026

Early exercise improves motor function in a mouse model of DDX3X syndrome

Acquisition of motor skills during infancy is critical for a child's ability to interact with the physical and social environment and motor impairments are frequent in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.

27 Oct 2026

Autistic people show weaker brain responses to negative feedback

Some people who have autism spectrum disorder struggle to adapt to changing demands in their environment.

27 Oct 2026

Adrenaline and dopamine help explain the thrill of being scared

Monsters, bloodcurdling screams, howling ghosts, and being chased by a chainsaw-wielding stranger are elements that make a great night out for many people.

27 Oct 2026

New model reduces trial and error in mass spectrometry imaging

Andrei Fedorov and his team have found a way to take some of the guesswork out of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), potentially giving scientists better tools to explore the molecules that influence our health.

27 Oct 2026

Dismissive consultations leave some autoimmune patients distressed and suicidal

Patients have been left feeling suicidal after feeling like their doctor was saying their symptoms were 'all in their head' – according to research from the University of East Anglia and the University of Cambridge.

26 Oct 2026

Immunotherapy combination sets a new standard of care for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

In patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), tarlatamab, a bispecific T-cell engager, plus durvalumab as first-line maintenance therapy extended median overall survival by more than eight months, more than tripled progression-free survival, and reduced the risk of death by 58% compared to durvalumab alone, according to results of the phase 3 open-label, multicenter, randomized DeLLphi-305 study, which was presented by Jacob Sands, MD, Associate Chief of the Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, during the Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2026 in Madrid, Spain, on Oct. 24.

26 Oct 2026

Semaglutide changes gut bacteria in rats beyond what eating less explains

Researchers compared semaglutide-treated male and female rats with pair-fed animals receiving the same amount and type of food to distinguish drug-associated microbiome changes from those linked to reduced eating. Semaglutide altered bacterial richness and community composition, with some changes absent from the pair-fed groups and uncertain consequences for health.

26 Oct 2026

The vaginal microbiome may relate to more than reproductive health

Researchers analyzed vaginal microbiota, metabolites, and psychological questionnaire scores in 105 young Italian women and found associations between microbial community types and reward responsiveness, motivational drive, and behavioral inhibition. Exploratory models identified statistical links involving vaginal GABA and valine, but the cross-sectional study could not establish whether microbiome changes influence psychological functioning or the reverse.

26 Oct 2026