Brain

In a new study, researchers discovered that the human brain has four pivotal periods when it goes through marked changes, sparking five "epochs" that last for years. The adolescent phase, for example, was found to extend into our early 30s.

In a major brain science breakthrough, researchers discovered a nerve signaling mechanism that takes place outside the cell, flipping on a 'pain switch.' This could shed light on a path to safer pain medication without the usual side effects.

Scientists have failed to show that weight-loss wonder drug semaglutide can also slow the progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD), as two two-year clinical trials end in disappointment for patients, medical scientists and drugmaker Novo Nordisk.

Scientists have made history with a device that successfully eavesdrops on the neuronal chatter between the brain and the gut, furthering our understanding of its intrinsic interconnectedness – and how it drives health and disease throughout the body.

Scientists have, for the first time, developed functional, brain-like tissue without relying on animal-derived materials or biological coatings. The innovation offers a new, fully synthetic platform for neural tissue engineering.

Groundbreaking research has uncovered three gene variants that increase the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder by up to 15 times. It's a remarkable finding, considering that thousands of mutations only come with a nominal elevated risk.

One of the brain’s biggest benefits from exercise – the birth of new neurons – may not even require any movement. Instead, the beneficial “packages” circulating in the blood after working out can be successfully transferred to others.

Boosting levels of a certain molecule that declines with age restored the function of hundreds of brain genes and reversed memory loss in Alzheimer’s disease models, fixing the RNA splicing errors that drive damage to critical neurons.

Researchers at MIT have created a revolutionary platform to treat a vast array of neurological diseases and mental illnesses. It could not only prove more effective than traditional methods, but also negate the need for invasive brain surgery.

Scientists have identified a significant link between levels of choline and the prevalence of anxiety, suggesting that upping intake of this essential nutrient found in many foods could potentially improve symptoms of these debilitating disorders.

New research had made a striking link between a mother’s exposure to “forever chemicals” during pregnancy and the shape of her child’s brain at age five. The findings can't say whether these changes are positive or negative.

For the first time, scientists have recorded hundreds of hippocampal cells in flying bats simultaneously to show how bats store memories not just of individual places, but as entire maps. The study could lead to cures for neurological disorders.