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.

Early B-cell therapy linked to better MS disease control

For people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), early treatment choices were associated with only slight differences after two years, based on the first treatment they used, according to a study published September 9, 2026, in Neurology Open Access, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

9 Sep 2026

Technological roadmap proposed for lifetime brain-wide neural recordings

Understanding the brain requires tools that can follow neural activity across many scales: from millisecond electrical spikes in individual neurons to brain-wide circuit dynamics that change over months, years, and even a lifetime.

9 Sep 2026

Gut infection leaves long-lasting immune ‘memories’ at the brain’s borders in mice

In mice, intestinal infections reshaped dural CD4+ T-cell populations and seeded the brain’s outer meningeal border with antigen-specific memory cells that persisted for months and mounted rapid recall responses to bloodborne antigens. Oral priming was associated with reduced Salmonella spread to the brain and modest cross-protection in an engineered shared-antigen Candida model, although the researchers could not definitively prove that dural CD4+ T cells alone caused the protection.

9 Sep 2026

Caloric restriction reduces genetic mutations across the mouse genome

Mutations are changes in the molecular "letters" that make up DNA, the genetic blueprint for cells. Mutations build up with age in every cell when DNA is damaged or when cells make mistakes in fixing or copying it.

9 Sep 2026

Laser-carved microvalves prevent hazardous backflow in medical microcatheters

A single cough, deep breath, or shift in posture can turn life-saving medical microcatheters into hazardous two-way streets.

9 Sep 2026

Ten minutes of slow running boosts brain function and mood

A growing body of evidence shows that exercise improves mood and cognitive function. However, much of this evidence comes from cycling, which allows researchers to precisely control exercise intensity in the laboratory.

9 Sep 2026

New blood screening algorithm reduces unnecessary Alzheimer's PET scans

A new blood-based screening algorithm dramatically reduced the number of unnecessary PET scans needed to recruit patients at risk of Alzheimer's disease for a clinical trial, according to research from scientists at the Keck School of Medicine of USC published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

9 Sep 2026

ACC Latin America 2026 brings together experts to examine the latest cardiovascular science

The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Colombian Society of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery will host the ACC Latin America 2026 conference on September 17-19 in Medellín, Colombia.

9 Sep 2026

Workplace stress may impair erectile function in young men

New research in the International Journal of Clinical Practice suggests that workplace psychological stress may impair erectile function in young men by affecting certain stress management pathways in the brain and reducing testosterone levels.

9 Sep 2026

EpilepsyGTx and Viralgen collaborate to advance AAV gene therapy program for epilepsy ahead of first-in-human trial

EpilepsyGTx, a biotechnology company developing gene therapies for refractory epilepsy, and Viralgen, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies, today announced a partnership to support production of EpilepsyGTx's lead investigational gene therapy program targeting patients with focal refractory epilepsy (FRE), EPY201, ahead of first-in-human clinical trials.

From EpilepsyGTx 9 Sep 2026

Astrocyte changes may explain how stress affects mental health

A new study led by UCLA Health researchers has identified a specific type of brain cell and a tiny structure on its surface that changes when the body is under stress, which may help explain why stress can lead to anxiety and depression.

8 Sep 2026

Walking pace matters alongside daily step count to reduce early death risk

Taking fewer daily steps at a faster pace or more steps at a slower pace may substantially lower the risk of early death by up to 43 per cent, new research from Monash University and the University of Sydney has found.

8 Sep 2026

Retinal immune cell gateway may unlock targeted uveitis treatments

As part of an effort to understand the molecules and mechanisms that regulate transendothelial migration in different vascular beds of the body, researchers focused on the blood vessels of the retina, part of the blood-brain barrier.

8 Sep 2026

Traditional Japanese Igusa mats boost focus and reduce anxiety

Publishing in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers at Kyushu University found that using mats made from Japanese Igusa, or rush grass, was associated with increased activity in regions of the brain related to concentration and engagement.

8 Sep 2026

Vitamin A derivative prevents immune cell exhaustion in brain tumors

Immune cells can become exhausted after prolonged exposure to cancer, gradually losing their ability to attack tumor cells.

8 Sep 2026

Severe asthma inflammation linked to structural changes in the brain

People living with a severe form of asthma show subtle differences in the structure of their brains compared with people whose asthma is well controlled, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

8 Sep 2026

Ultrasonic vocalizations in rats linked to pleasurable food consumption

Understanding how the brain processes rewarding experiences could help researchers better understand behaviors such as overeating, as well as conditions such as anhedonia-the inability to experience pleasure, which is a common symptom of depression.

8 Sep 2026

New AI model decodes chemical signals guiding embryonic cell development

As an embryo develops from a small cluster of stem cells, those once "blank slate" cells begin to take on more specialized roles like brain, liver, or muscle cells, and organize themselves into three-dimensional structures such as tissues and organs.

8 Sep 2026

Could scorpion venom inspire new treatments for liver disease?

Scorpion venom peptides show promising anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects, with experimental evidence suggesting that some candidates could target pathways involved in chronic liver disease and viral hepatitis. The review highlights Kv1.3-blocking peptides and antiviral compounds as potential therapeutic leads, while emphasizing that limited hepatic efficacy data, poor pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges must be overcome before clinical translation.

8 Sep 2026

Could one amino acid help explain why men tend to live shorter lives?

A UK Biobank cohort and Mendelian randomization study involving 272,475 participants linked higher circulating tyrosine with greater all-cause mortality and genetically predicted higher tyrosine with shorter lifespan. After accounting for phenylalanine, the relationship with shorter lifespan was clearest in men, while findings in women were less consistent, suggesting a potential sex-specific role for tyrosine in longevity.

7 Sep 2026