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.

New Tool Merges Ex-Vivo and In-Vivo Brain Data for White Matter Research

BraDiPho is an innovative tool for the study of white matter connections in the human brain. A realistic map developed by a group of researchers from the University of Trento, the Provincial Healthcare Service of Trento, Fondazione Bruno Kessler and the Universities of Bordeaux and Sherbrooke.

7 Nov 2025

Hidden Role of Biliverdin Reductase A in Fighting Oxidative Damage

According to a new study from Johns Hopkins Medicine, the enzyme biliverdin reductase A (BVRA) protects neurons directly from oxidative stress, regardless of whether it produces the yellow pigment bilirubin.

5 Nov 2025

RNA Molecules Alter Genome Structure to Silence Critical Neuronal Genes During Stress

What if the brain's response to stress could be read not in fleeting neurotransmitter bursts, but in the quieting of genes deep inside chromatin? Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham have now shown that stress hormones may silence crucial neuronal genes through an unexpected class of RNA molecules that operate not by encoding proteins, but by reshaping the genome's architecture.

5 Nov 2025

Enzyme BVRA Found to Shield Neurons from Oxidative Stress

New research from Johns Hopkins Medicine shows that the enzyme biliverdin reductase A (BVRA) plays a direct protective role against oxidative stress in neurons, independent of its role producing the yellow pigment bilirubin.

4 Nov 2025

Scientists Build the First Cellular Atlas of the World’s Deadliest Mosquito

The most dangerous animal in the world just got easier to study-and perhaps defeat one day.

3 Nov 2025

Frazzled Protein Found to Shape Fast Neural Connections in Fruit Flies

Florida Atlantic University neuroscientists have uncovered a surprising role for a protein named "Frazzled" (known as DCC in mammals) in the nervous system of fruit flies, showing how it helps neurons connect and communicate with lightning speed.

3 Nov 2025

Cross-Ancestry Genomic Study Identifies Thirteen Genes Linked to Obesity

Obesity is a global epidemic affecting millions of people every day and is associated with comorbidities ranging from heart disease and Type 2 diabetes to osteoarthritis and social stigma.

31 Oct 2025

Research Sheds New Light On How Neurons Transmit Strains and Stresses

How do embryos develop? Why does the cortex of the mammalian brain fold? How do we feel touch at our fingertips? These and other fundamental biological questions remain unsolved. Yet, scientists know they all rely on a common principle: the conversion of a physical stimulus into a biochemical signal.

30 Oct 2025

Fruit Fly Study Reveals New Details on Alzheimer's Disease Risk Genes

Scientists have identified hundreds of genes that may increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease but the roles these genes play in the brain are poorly understood.

30 Oct 2025

Unlocking the Secrets of Neural Ion Channels

As information zings from cell to cell inside the brain, bursts of electricity spur its transmission. At Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL), scientists have turned their attention to the tiny pores that let charged ions enter a cell-and the molecular gatekeepers that help control them.

30 Oct 2025

Reversible Epigenetic Switches Influence Memory Formation

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called "engrams". Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss.

30 Oct 2025

Study Reveals How Blood Vessels Drive Neuron Movement in the Brain

Researchers have discovered how newly created neurons depend on blood flow in the adult brain to travel from their site of origin to their final location.

29 Oct 2025

Retinal Implant Restores Sight for Patients With Macular Degeneration

A wireless photovoltaic implant shows promise in restoring central vision for patients with macular degeneration, enhancing visual acuity and independence.

29 Oct 2025

Aptamer Technology Offers Breakthrough in Identifying Zombie Cells

When it comes to treating disease, one promising avenue is addressing the presence of senescent cells.

28 Oct 2025

Mutation in NAMPT Gene Found to Cause Rare Neurological Disease

An international research team, led by Shinghua Ding at the University of Missouri, has identified a previously unknown genetic disease that affects movement and muscle control.

28 Oct 2025

Understanding Interplay of Physiological Processes as the Brain Shifts from Wakefulness to Sleep

Findings from Mass General Brigham investigators highlight the intricate interplay of diverse physiological processes as the brain shifts from wakefulness to sleep.

27 Oct 2025

Disrupted Circadian Rhythms Alter Gene Activity in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer's disease is notorious for scrambling patients' daily rhythms. Restless nights with little sleep and increased napping during the day are early indicators of disease onset, while sundowning, or confusion later in the day, is typical for later stages of the disease.

24 Oct 2025