Central Nervous System News and Research

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Does coffee disrupt sleep? Large population study suggests the impact may be minimal

A large cross-sectional analysis of 25,381 Swedish adults aged 50–64 found that habitual coffee consumption showed only very weak associations with sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Genetic analyses confirmed known coffee-related variants and suggested that long-term caffeine exposure may lead to adaptation in the brain’s adenosine signaling system.

11 Mar 2026

ADHD prescriptions surged during the COVID-19 pandemic

A study reveals COVID-19 reshaped stimulant prescribing patterns in Ontario, highlighting increased ADHD diagnoses and concerns over treatment appropriateness.

11 Mar 2026

Scientists identify common molecular program across multiple brain tumor types

Research uncovering the origin of pineoblastoma, a rare pediatric brain tumor, has also revealed a dependency across multiple brain tumor types that share a similar molecular program.

6 Mar 2026

Single dose of CAR-astrocyte therapy halves amyloid levels in mice brains

The new generation of Alzheimer's disease drugs - the first proven to change the course of the disease - typically extend independent living for patients by 10 months.

6 Mar 2026

MIMETAS publishes breakthrough study on 3D blood-brain barrier model with unidirectional flow

Scientists at MIMETAS have published a new study describing a scalable, self-assembling human blood-brain barrier (BBB) model that combines physiological relevance with high-throughput capability.

5 Mar 2026

AI trained on 9 trillion DNA letters predicts harmful mutations and designs new genomes

Scientists developed Evo 2, a large biological foundation model trained on about 9 trillion DNA base pairs that can analyse genomic sequences across bacteria, plants, and humans. The model predicts functional effects of genetic variants and can generate genome-scale DNA sequences, enabling new approaches to studying and designing biological systems.

5 Mar 2026

Researchers propose that Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut, not the brain

A perspective in The Journal of Clinical Investigation argues that environmental exposures may interact with the gut microbiome and intestinal barrier to trigger biological processes linked to Parkinson’s disease. The authors propose that cumulative environmental stressors can erode host resilience, promoting α-synuclein pathology, immune activation, and neurodegeneration.

5 Mar 2026

New blood biomarker may detect Alzheimer’s pathology more accurately

Researchers compared total plasma pTau217 with a brain-derived pTau217 assay to determine which better identifies Alzheimer’s disease–related amyloid and tau pathology. Brain-derived pTau217 showed strong diagnostic performance and appeared less affected by kidney dysfunction, supporting its potential as a more specific blood biomarker for Alzheimer’s disease.

3 Mar 2026

Investigating microglia’s role in Alzheimer’s pathology

Announcing a new article publication for BIO Integration journal. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide. Microglia, as central nervous system (CNS) resident macrophages, are key to AD pathology. Indeed, microglia aggregation around amyloid-β (Aβ) deposits is an AD hallmark.

1 Mar 2026

Acoziborole receives positive opinion for single-dose sleeping sickness treatment

The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has granted a positive opinion to Acoziborole Winthrop (acoziborole) as a single-dose oral treatment for both early- and advanced-stage gambiense sleeping sickness in adults as well as in adolescents 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kilograms.

27 Feb 2026

Study finds sharp drop in benzodiazepine use among older adults

Benzodiazepine treatment declined among U.S. adults between 2018 and 2022, with the steepest drop among adults ages 56 and older, according to a new study by researchers at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

25 Feb 2026

Stereotactic radiation improves quality of life in patients with brain metastases

In a Phase 3 randomized trial, Mass General Brigham researchers found that stereotactic radiation targeting individual tumors led to lower symptom burden, better cognitive outcomes, and better day to day function when compared with whole brain radiation

19 Feb 2026

Key protein regulates slow oxytocin release in the brain

The brain does not only communicate through fast electrical impulses; it also relies on slower, more diffuse chemical signals that modulate our emotional and social states over time.

19 Feb 2026

IFN-γ identified as a powerful blood biomarker for Alzheimer’s

This study identifies IFN-γ as a crucial blood-based biomarker for Alzheimer's, revealing its role in microglial inflammation and genetic risk interactions.

19 Feb 2026

Novel implant delivers tiny growth-promoting particles directly to injured nerve cells

Researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences have developed a novel implant that delivers tiny growth-promoting particles directly to injured nerve cells, helping them to regrow after spinal cord injury.

18 Feb 2026

A simple handgrip test reveals how strong your working memory may be

Grip strength correlates with working memory performance and prefrontal activation, highlighting its potential as a cognitive health marker in older adults.

18 Feb 2026

Can GLP-1 drugs slow neurodegeneration? New review finds promising signals but limited clinical proof

This review examines how GLP-1 receptor agonists may influence neurodegenerative disease biology through metabolic, inflammatory, mitochondrial, and proteostasis pathways. Evidence from mechanistic, preclinical, and early clinical studies suggests potential neuroprotective effects, but definitive disease-modifying benefit remains unproven.

17 Feb 2026

ASH releases new guidelines for treating leukemia in adolescents and young adults

The American Society of Hematology (ASH) released guidelines on frontline management of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in adolescents and young adults (AYAs), as well as the management of relapsed or refractory disease in this population.

12 Feb 2026

Case report examines potential cancer risks after mRNA vaccination

A new case report was published in Volume 17 of Oncotarget on February 6, 2026, titled "Exploring the potential link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations and cancer: A case report with a review of haematopoietic malignancies with insights into pathogenic mechanisms."

12 Feb 2026

Researchers identify a previously unknown cellular barrier in the brain

VIB and Ghent University researchers have identified and characterized a previously unknown cellular barrier in the brain, which sheds new light on how the brain is protected from the rest of the body.

12 Feb 2026

Central Nervous System News and Research

Does coffee disrupt sleep? Large population study suggests the impact may be minimal

ADHD prescriptions surged during the COVID-19 pandemic

Scientists identify common molecular program across multiple brain tumor types

Single dose of CAR-astrocyte therapy halves amyloid levels in mice brains

MIMETAS publishes breakthrough study on 3D blood-brain barrier model with unidirectional flow

AI trained on 9 trillion DNA letters predicts harmful mutations and designs new genomes

Researchers propose that Parkinson’s disease may start in the gut, not the brain

New blood biomarker may detect Alzheimer’s pathology more accurately

Investigating microglia’s role in Alzheimer’s pathology

Acoziborole receives positive opinion for single-dose sleeping sickness treatment

Study finds sharp drop in benzodiazepine use among older adults

Stereotactic radiation improves quality of life in patients with brain metastases

Key protein regulates slow oxytocin release in the brain

IFN-γ identified as a powerful blood biomarker for Alzheimer’s

Novel implant delivers tiny growth-promoting particles directly to injured nerve cells

A simple handgrip test reveals how strong your working memory may be

Can GLP-1 drugs slow neurodegeneration? New review finds promising signals but limited clinical proof

ASH releases new guidelines for treating leukemia in adolescents and young adults

Case report examines potential cancer risks after mRNA vaccination

Researchers identify a previously unknown cellular barrier in the brain

Event guide: The 7th CNS Drug Delivery Summit eBook

Advancing Neuroscience Research Through Collaboration and Patient-Centered Innovation

The impact of vibration on microscopy

How Omics Technologies Are Transforming Biological Research and Drug Discovery

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