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.

Blocking immune pathway slows Huntington disease in mouse models

Huntington disease is a rare, inherited brain disorder that progressively destroys nerve cells, leading to worsening movement, cognitive and psychiatric symptoms.

8 Jun 2026

Brain-targeted estrogen reduces breast cancer treatment side effects

Most breast cancers are worsened by estrogens. To combat the recurrence of these cancers, clinicians treat patients with inhibitors for estrogen production, like letrozole. But many patients do not adhere to this treatment due to negative side effects.

8 Jun 2026

New genetic disorder linked to severe childhood lung disease

A new report in the American Journal of Human Genetics describes a novel disorder caused by biallelic loss-of-function variants in the TMEM63B gene, which results in severe lung disease.

8 Jun 2026

Postoperative delirium serves as strongest predictor of cognitive decline

Researchers found postoperative delirium was strongly associated with long-term cognitive decline and the effect was not explained by rehospitalizations, highlighting the long-term impact of delirium on brain health.

8 Jun 2026

Female brain forms fear memories through unique molecular process

Women are twice as likely as men to develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - and new research may offer a biological clue as to why.

8 Jun 2026

Antidepressants trigger opposite reactions in different groups of serotonin-producing brain cells

A new study has uncovered how antidepressants affect different groups of serotonin-producing brain cells in opposite ways, offering new insights into why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause unpleasant side effects at the start of treatment but lead to symptom relief over time.

8 Jun 2026

Weight loss drugs linked to lower risk of alcohol, opioid, nicotine and cocaine use disorders

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso found that use of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and other GLP-1s is associated with a lower risk of developing alcohol, opioid, nicotine and cocaine use disorders.

8 Jun 2026

Researchers induce sleep-like brain activity to reverse memory loss

By inducing specific patterns of activity in small portions of the brain in awake mice, researchers supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have triggered a recalibration of neural connections that normally only occurs during sleep.

8 Jun 2026

Infant receives world's first gene therapy for WOREE syndrome

An eight-month-old infant with a severe genetic epilepsy has become the first patient in the world to receive an experimental gene replacement therapy designed to restore the function of the WWOX gene directly in the brain.

8 Jun 2026

Acupuncture improves stroke recovery and reshapes brain networks

Acupuncture shows promise for stroke recovery, promoting neuroplasticity and motor function improvements, according to findings from a randomized MRI trial.

8 Jun 2026

Living in a rural area may worsen epilepsy outcomes

A study reveals rural Americans with epilepsy face higher mortality and diagnostic gaps, emphasizing the need for improved healthcare access and resources.

8 Jun 2026

Improved non-invasive brain stimulation targets deep-seated neurological disorders

Brain stimulation techniques can correct abnormal activity in the neural circuits involved in conditions such as Parkinson's disease and depression. However, current transcranial stimulation methods delivered through the scalp reach only the brain's surface, limiting their effectiveness.

8 Jun 2026

Researchers develop compound 10 to slow Alzheimer's disease progression

Researchers from ETH Zurich have developed an active ingredient that slows down the progression of typical Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice. This new substance protects nerve cells and could in future alleviate the suffering of Alzheimer’s patients. The active ingredient also shows anti-aging effects.

8 Jun 2026

AI predicts meningioma recurrence from routine pathology slides

Mayo Clinic researchers and collaborators have shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can analyze routine pathology slides to help classify meningiomas, the most common primary brain tumor in adults, and predict a patient's risk of tumor recurrence.

7 Jun 2026

Researchers identify hidden self-harm histories using machine learning

Important mental health history is often present in medical records but hard to find, especially when it is missing from the diagnosis codes that clinicians, researchers and health systems use to search and count conditions.

5 Jun 2026

Grant fuels research into SYNGAP1-linked behavioral abnormalities

CURE SYNGAP1 501(c)(3) is pleased to announce a $130,000 grant to Dr. Helen Willsey and Dr. David Kastner at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

5 Jun 2026

New artificial intelligence tool helps clinicians distinguish between dementia types

Alzheimer's disease and related dementias are expected to more than double by 2060. As June marks Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, three University of Florida researchers are working to improve clinicians' ability to distinguish between these diseases - a critical step toward earlier diagnosis and better outcomes.

5 Jun 2026