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.

Antiviral drugs and shingles vaccines tied to lower dementia risk

New evidence links viral infections to dementia risk, suggesting vaccines and antiviral therapies may offer preventive pathways against cognitive decline.

8 Apr 2026

Brain study reveals sender and receiver roles in default mode network

The default mode network (DMN) is a distributed set of interconnected brain regions that has long been associated with internally oriented cognition such as remembering the past, thinking about the future, or thinking about oneself.

7 Apr 2026

Childhood trauma inspires research into brain repair and recovery

What began as a child's encounter with trauma has grown into a research programme committed to understanding recovery.

7 Apr 2026

RNA barcoding maps neural connections with unprecedented resolution

By tagging neurons with molecular "barcodes," researchers mapped connections among thousands of neurons in the mouse brain with unprecedented speed and resolution.

7 Apr 2026

Study questions benefits of fish oil after mild brain injuries

A first-of-its-kind study led by the Medical University of South Carolina raises questions about the value of fish oil supplements for people with repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries.

7 Apr 2026

Hearing loss and sex shape dual-task outcomes in older adults with mild cognitive impairment

Cognitive and physical training can help older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) maintain or improve their ability to move and think simultaneously, but hearing ability and sex influence outcomes, according to a new Concordia-led study.

7 Apr 2026

What happens in the brain on psychedelics? Scientists identify a common circuit pattern

Researchers combined 11 international resting-state fMRI datasets to map how psychedelic drugs reshape brain connectivity across cortical and subcortical circuits. The mega-analysis found a shared signature of stronger coupling between transmodal association networks and unimodal or sensorimotor systems, alongside selective and variable reductions in within-network connectivity.

7 Apr 2026

Gladstone investigator wins MIND Prize to decode hidden Alzheimer’s genetics

Gladstone Institutes investigator Ryan Corces, PhD, has been named a 2026 winner of the Pershing Square Foundation's MIND Prize, a prestigious award recognizing next-frontier thinkers who are uncovering a deeper understanding of the brain and cognition.

7 Apr 2026

Newly developed smart molecules offer a safer and more precise approach to cancer care

Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed smart molecules that can both detect and treat cancer, offering a safer and more precise approach to care.

7 Apr 2026

TIFR researchers identify protein essential for survival and function of vomeronasal sensory neurons

Researchers at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, have identified a mammalian protein, Cnpy1 (Canopy1), that is essential for the survival and function of vomeronasal sensory neurons in mice.

7 Apr 2026

Navigated TMS significantly boosts combat PTSD recovery rates

An advanced version of a procedure using magnetic fields to stimulate brain nerve cells in treating depression was significantly effective for 85% of active military and veterans suffering from combat post-traumatic stress disorder enrolled in a recent study, when added to psychotherapy.

7 Apr 2026

Study reveals racial and ethnic disparities in pediatric e-scooter injuries

As electric scooters (e-scooters) become more available in cities and urban areas, injuries are becoming more common - especially among teenage boys.

7 Apr 2026

Base editing corrects genetic mutation responsible for severe form of inherited epilepsy

University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have used a next-generation form of gene editing to fix the underlying cause of a severe form of epilepsy in lab mice.

7 Apr 2026

Study investigates how the brain maintains consciousness during physiological failure

Near-death experiences continue to challenge the scientific understanding of consciousness: how can vivid and structured reports be explained at moments of extreme physiological failure?

7 Apr 2026

Integrated motor exercise improves core ADHD symptoms and executive function

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood and is marked not only by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, but also by weaknesses in executive functions such as inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

7 Apr 2026

Blocking nitric oxide suppresses tumor growth in aggressive pediatric neuroblastoma

The tumor begins before birth. Somewhere in the developing fetus, neural crest cells that should have matured into adrenal tissue or sympathetic ganglia take a wrong turn, and a child is born harboring a malignancy that may not declare itself for months.

7 Apr 2026

Dual perspective AI model achieves high accuracy in early lung cancer diagnosis

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, accounting for nearly one in five cancer deaths - around 1.8 million lives lost each year.

7 Apr 2026

Could vitamin D in midlife protect your brain from early Alzheimer’s?

Higher serum vitamin D in midlife is associated with reduced tau burden in the brain, highlighting its potential role in early dementia risk assessment.

7 Apr 2026

Smoking shrinks key brain regions while cannabis shows weaker effects

The study highlights brain changes from tobacco use and calls for more research on cannabis, as its effects on brain structure remain inadequately understood.

7 Apr 2026

Researchers track how youth drinking deaths changed worldwide over 31 years

A global analysis of GBD 2021 data found that youth drinking contributed to 417,198 deaths across 194 WHO member countries and territories between 1990 and 2021, with deaths declining from 13,346 to 10,563 over the period. Boys and young men bore a far higher burden, and most alcohol-attributable deaths were linked to transport injuries, interpersonal violence, and self-harm, with marked disparities across SDI levels and countries.

6 Apr 2026