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brain research

Research articles and news stories tagged with brain research

·May 12, 2026·7 min read

Slowing Parkinson’s by Blocking a Key Protein

A new study found that GPNMB, released by the brain's immune cells, accelerates the spread of toxic alpha-synuclein. By using monoclonal antibodies to block GPNMB, the team successfully interrupted the cycle of neurodegeneration in preclinical models. This discovery provides a new therapeutic target that could finally slow the progression of Parkinson’s at its earliest stages.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 12, 2026·8 min read

“Jumping Genes” Shaped the Evolution of the Brain

Researchers discovered that transposable elements (TEs) provided more than 20,000 regulatory binding sites that drive neural development. By acting as genomic couriers for transcription factors like Sox2 and Brn2, these "jumping genes" expanded the complexity of the mammalian brain, offering a new two-phase model of how our neural networks evolved.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 12, 2026·7 min read

GLP-1 Drugs Dramatically Reduce “Food Noise” in Weight Loss

GLP-1 medications effectively "turn down the volume" on intrusive food thoughts. In a study of 417 adults, those combining medication with behavioral therapy saw a significantly greater reduction in "food noise" than those using therapy alone, offering a potential neurobiological explanation for the success of these new obesity treatments.

This shows an older woman sleeping and microglia.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 12, 2026·6 min read

Targeting Brain “Clean-up” Cells to Fight Dementia

Researchers discovered that dysregulated circadian rhythms cause microglia, the brain’s immune cells, to become "stress-primed" and malfunction. This state prevents them from clearing amyloid plaques, accelerating dementia risk. Now, using DARI seedling grants, Souza is testing a stem-cell-derived "EV therapy" designed to keep these cells healthy and prevent neuroinflammation.

Neuroscience

·May 12, 2026·10 min read

Mapping Millions of Aging Brain Cells Simultaneously

By developing IRISeq and EnrichSci, researchers can now map the spatial neighborhoods of millions of aging brain cells and zoom in on rare, vulnerable populations. Their discovery that inflammatory cells cluster in white matter and that exonic changes drive oligodendrocyte aging provides precise new targets for anti-aging interventions and neurodegenerative disease treatment.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·May 12, 2026·7 min read

Emotional Labeling Reduces Anxiety in Those with Autism

Can labeling your feelings "fix" anxiety? For those with higher autistic traits, the answer may be yes. Researchers found that while these individuals experience higher intolerance of uncertainty, the act of putting feelings into words serves as a powerful regulator that lowers anxiety levels. This discovery suggests that providing "emotional toolkits" in classrooms and counseling could transform how we support neurodivergent individuals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 12, 2026·6 min read

Timing of Trauma: Life Stages Shape the Resilient and Vulnerable Brain

Researchers mapped how trauma at different life stages reshapes specific brain regions, from the hippocampus in childhood to the prefrontal cortex in adolescence. These findings suggest that the timing of trauma creates a biological "blueprint" for adult behavior, opening the door for personalized psychiatric treatments based on developmental windows.

This shows the outline of two heads and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 11, 2026·6 min read

How the Brain Dampens Losses to Support Mental Toughness

Psychologically resilient people place less value on minor losses. This bias is driven by heightened prefrontal brain activity that helps regulate negative emotions, providing a potential neural target for training mental toughness.

This shows the outline of two people and brains.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 9, 2026·8 min read

Reducing Visceral Fat Protects the Brain for Decades

A landmark 16-year MRI study identified cumulative abdominal fat as a specific, modifiable risk factor for brain atrophy. The findings demonstrate that sustained reductions in visceral fat, mediated by better glucose control, are essential for preserving hippocampal volume and cognitive function in late midlife, independent of total weight loss.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 9, 2026·8 min read

Beyond the Gym: Why Your Brain Craves Creatine

By accelerating ATP regeneration, creatine supplementation offers significant potential for enhancing cognitive processing and supporting neurological health in aging populations.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 8, 2026·8 min read

Brain Switch for Action and Stress Identified

By mapping the interaction between the locus coeruleus and the anterior cingulate cortex, researchers found a mechanism that regulates the intensity of the body’s fight-or-flight responses. This discovery offers a transformative roadmap for treating Parkinson’s mobility issues and modulating stress-induced cravings in alcohol use disorder.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 8, 2026·9 min read

Brain Stimulation Boosts Willpower to Quit Smoking

Addiction is a biological imbalance where reward systems overpower self-control. Researchers have demonstrated that using rTMS to stimulate the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex can restore this balance, reducing cigarette use by 11 per day. This "top-down" approach strengthens the brain's ability to resist cravings, offering a promising precision-medicine tool for those struggling to quit smoking.

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brain research

Slowing Parkinson’s by Blocking a Key Protein

“Jumping Genes” Shaped the Evolution of the Brain

GLP-1 Drugs Dramatically Reduce “Food Noise” in Weight Loss

Targeting Brain “Clean-up” Cells to Fight Dementia

Mapping Millions of Aging Brain Cells Simultaneously

Emotional Labeling Reduces Anxiety in Those with Autism

Timing of Trauma: Life Stages Shape the Resilient and Vulnerable Brain

How the Brain Dampens Losses to Support Mental Toughness

Reducing Visceral Fat Protects the Brain for Decades

Beyond the Gym: Why Your Brain Craves Creatine

Brain Switch for Action and Stress Identified

Brain Stimulation Boosts Willpower to Quit Smoking

Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation Fixes Parkinson’s Walking Gait

Cohabitation Drives Transmission of Diabetes Linked Microbes

Young People Turn to AI for Mental Health Support

Behavioral Mapping Tames Hallucinations in Alzheimer’s Psychosis

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