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.

Research links low-energy falls to triage undertreatment in female brain injuries

Female patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are 26% less likely to be admitted to a specialized trauma center than males, according to a study on data from Ontario published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) https://www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.251721. This difference persisted even after the researchers accounted for factors such as age, severity of injury, other health conditions, and socioeconomic circumstances.

15 Jun 2026

Researchers map rare DHDDS disease mechanism using lab-grown mini brains

Variants in the DHDDS gene cause a severe neurodegenerative condition, characterized by tremors, seizures, coordination and learning difficulties, usually manifesting in early childhood. This Parkinson's-like condition is extremely rare, and until recently, parents were told that there was nothing that could be done to slow down its progression.

15 Jun 2026

Lab trials prove copper therapy enhances cognitive function and spatial learning

Monash University researchers have found in laboratory experiments that a drug which delivers copper to the brain significantly reduces toxic Alzheimer's proteins and improves long-term spatial memory.

15 Jun 2026

Digital brain twin recreates brain activity in a toddler with autism

Researchers developed FEDE, a high-fidelity digital brain twin pipeline that combines MRI-derived anatomy with biophysical modeling to reconstruct brain structure and simulate EEG activity. In a single toddler with autism spectrum disorder, the model closely reproduced recorded brain activity and suggested possible patient-specific alterations in neural noise and excitatory-inhibitory balance.

14 Jun 2026

Glucosamine may worsen Alzheimer’s by fueling abnormal brain glycosylation

A Nature Metabolism study identifies brain hyperglycosylation as a metabolic driver of Alzheimer’s disease, with increased N-glycan biosynthesis seen in human AD tissue and mouse models. Reducing glycosylation improved memory in AD mice, while glucosamine worsened memory deficits in 5xFAD mice and was associated with poorer outcomes in dementia patients.

14 Jun 2026

Short-chain oat fiber helps steady glucose and ease gut symptoms in pilot trial

A 14-day open-label pilot study in 63 healthy adults found that short-chain oat fiber was well tolerated at doses up to 20 g/day and was associated with improved gastrointestinal symptom scores.

14 Jun 2026

New guideline recommends tailored care for precocious puberty

Some subgroups of children with precocious puberty-such as older girls with slowly progressing puberty-may not need the same level of testing or treatment, according to a new Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline released today.

14 Jun 2026

Major NIH grant helps establish the Oklahoma Center of ImmunoEngineering

The University of Oklahoma has received an $11.5 million award from the National Institutes of Health to establish the Oklahoma Center of ImmunoEngineering, a new research center designed to accelerate the study and treatment of diseases rooted in the immune system.

12 Jun 2026

Researchers identify neural hub for accurate sensory predictions

In the split second after you hear a noise, your brain is already making a potentially life-or-death deduction: Did I do that, or did something else? Our nervous systems answer this question using something called corollary discharge, a copy of a motor command that tells sensory areas what to expect from our own actions.

12 Jun 2026

Study identifies immune pathway driving long-term concussion damage

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) - even mild concussions - may trigger a chain reaction in the brain that disrupts neuronal communication, long-term memory, and cognition, according to University of California, Riverside research investigating how the brain's immune system responds after injury.

12 Jun 2026

Parkinson's drug may ease anhedonia in treatment-resistant depression

For many people who suffer from depression, the condition is not just about feeling down, but also about a loss of motivation and difficulty finding pleasure in activities they used to enjoy.

12 Jun 2026

Study reveals unconscious filtering of emotionally negative words

We tend to assume that emotionally charged words are more likely to grab our attention. An insult shouted across a crowded room or a disturbing phrase overheard on television can seem impossible to ignore.

12 Jun 2026

New peptide strategy may protect brain cells involved in Parkinson's disease

Researchers at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) in Brazil have discovered a new strategy that may protect neurons and other brain cells involved in Parkinson's disease in the future.

12 Jun 2026

Cerebellar structural changes influence social behavior in autism

Researchers at Kanazawa University have identified a previously unrecognized mechanism by which structural changes in the cerebellum influence social behavior.

12 Jun 2026

Antibody profiles offer insights into long Covid cognitive symptoms

Persistent symptoms after COVID-19 infection continue to affect millions of people worldwide, even as the number of acute infections has declined.

12 Jun 2026

Moderate screen time post concussion may help teens recover faster

New research indicates that balanced screen use after a concussion can accelerate recovery in youth, suggesting a 'Goldilocks' approach to screen time.

12 Jun 2026

PhoreMost announces lead oncology program and appoints Chief Medical Officer to support clinical entry

PhoreMost Limited, a biotech company focused on turning scientific breakthroughs into life-changing cancer drugs, today announced its lead program, PMC-001, a next-generation, small molecule microtubule targeting agent (MTA) for primary and secondary brain cancers.

From PhoreMost 12 Jun 2026

Biotechnology breakthrough could revolutionize treatment for neurodegenerative diseases

A research team from the School of Biomedical Sciences at the LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed), has achieved a significant breakthrough in biotechnology that could revolutionize treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.

12 Jun 2026

Experimental vaccine protects against fentanyl and related opioids

Fentanyl and related variants of the synthetic opioid kill more Americans each year than car accidents and gun violence combined. In too-high doses, the drugs hijack brain chemistry and shut down the signals that control breathing.

11 Jun 2026

ChatGPT fills gaps like a confabulator, not a hallucinating mind

A Perspective article argues that large language model errors more closely resemble confabulations, while speech recognition errors, such as unsupported Whisper transcriptions, are functionally closer to hallucinations. The authors stress that these parallels are behavioral and provisional, not evidence of shared consciousness, and suggest that psychiatric concepts could help improve AI reliability.

11 Jun 2026