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.

Study Unveils Molecular Mechanism Behind Synapse Maturation

Researchers from the lab led by Prof. Joris De Wit (VIB-KU Leuven) have discovered an important clue to how connections between brain cells, known as synapses, mature.

21 May 2025

TEAD Proteins Switch Partners to Drive Neural Cell Maturation

The basic mechanisms that control neural development are intricate, and as research from St. Jude Children's Research Hospital shows, the underlying motivations may even seem contradictory.

21 May 2025

Zebrafish Study Warns of Ecological Risk from Tire-Related Water Contaminants

Emerging contaminants from rubber tires N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its oxidation product 6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ)-are raising new red flags for aquatic ecosystems.

20 May 2025

Autophagy: A Double-Edged Sword in Cancer and Protein Conformational Disorders

A new FEBS Letters review explores the dual role of autophagy in cancer and protein misfolding diseases—highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target and the challenges of tipping the balance between protection and harm.

20 May 2025

Microscopy Study Uncovers Dynamic Brain Remodeling During Hormonal Cycles

Hormone levels fluctuate like the tides, ebbing and flowing according to carefully orchestrated cycles.

14 May 2025

CAR-T Cell Therapy Causes “Brain Fog,” Independent of Other Cancer Treatments

After treatment with CAR-T cells - immune cells engineered to attack cancer - patients sometimes tell their doctors they feel like they have "brain fog," or forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.

13 May 2025

Estrogen Related Receptors Identified as Key to Muscle Energy Restoration

A new Salk Institute study suggests estrogen-related receptors could be a key to repairing energy metabolism and muscle fatigue.

13 May 2025

Unraveling How E. histolytica Kills Cells and Evades the Immune System

Understanding how E. histolytica attacks human cells and evades immunity is crucial for developing effective treatments and vaccines against this parasite.

13 May 2025

Mammal’s Lifespans Linked to Brain Size and Immune System Function, Says New Study

Why do cats generally live longer than dogs? New research suggests that longer livespans of mammals like cats could be linked to their bigger brains and more complex immune systems.

9 May 2025

Unlocking the Molecular Secrets of Sweet Taste Perception

Our enjoyment of sweets can be traced to one subset of taste receptor cells – specialized sweet-sensing cells found in our taste buds – that initiate the chain of reactions driving our strong attraction and appetite for sugar.

8 May 2025

Learning Reshapes Brain Wiring Through Thalamocortical Pathways

A landmark study published by scientists at the University of California San Diego is redefining science's understanding of the way learning takes place.

8 May 2025

Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Healthy Aging and Longevity

An international study led by the Institut de Neurociències at the UAB (INc-UAB) found that raising levels of the Klotho protein in mice extends lifespan and improves both physical and cognitive health as they age.

8 May 2025

Genes Influence When Babies Start Walking, Study Finds

Researchers examined over 70,000 infants’ genomic information in the first research of its kind. Eleven genetic markers were found to influence when babies begin to walk, providing a number of possibilities for more in-depth biological research.

8 May 2025

Restoring Alpha-Synuclein to Support Synaptic Function and Neurotransmission

A new study reveals how restoring α-synuclein levels can help preserve synaptic vesicle composition and function, offering therapeutic insights for Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases.

7 May 2025

Same Gene Mutations Can Require Different Treatments in Autism and Schizophrenia

For patients with disorders such as autism and schizophrenia, mutations in the same gene could require different treatments, according to new research from Yale School of Medicine (YSM).

6 May 2025

Memories of Cold Experiences Influence Metabolism and Thermoregulation

A groundbreaking study reveals that recalling cold experiences can activate thermoregulation and metabolism in mice, suggesting memory-based interventions could help treat obesity, diabetes, and temperature-related disorders like Raynaud’s disease.

6 May 2025

New Neural Circuit Discovery Explains Precision Steering in Fruit Flies

When a fruit fly is navigating straight forward at high speed, why does it know that it's not straying off course? Because as long as the fly moves directly forward, the visual scene shifts from front to back in a near-perfect mirror image across both retinas – generating, in other words, a symmetrical visual motion pattern.

2 May 2025