Neuroscience

Research looking at records from half a million people has identified 22 associations between viral infections and neurodegenerative disease. Influenza, encephalitis and other infections were linked to increased rates of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and MS.

By exposing healthy adults to diesel fumes before having their brain activity imaged in an fMRI machine, researchers have shown how traffic pollution can impair brain function, offering evidence of the connection between air quality and cognition.

Speaking voice commands to a mobile device in public can make some people feel a bit silly, plus background noise may be a problem. French startup Wisear has developed an alternative, in the form of earbuds that "read" the user's facial activity.

Mini human brains, grown from stem cells and implanted into living mice, have for the first time been shown to respond to things the mice were seeing. Scientists were able to watch the responses in real time thanks to specialized graphene electrodes.

Scientists at Yale University have uncovered an overlooked mechanism that may be behind the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The team points the finger at small swellings on axons near plaques that build up in the brain, suggesting new drug targets.

Researchers have demonstrated that inducing a kind of hibernation state could help protect organs from damage when blood circulation is stopped during surgery. The technique slows down the metabolism and has been found to work well in tests in mice.

The failure of another massive Phase 3 trial testing an anti-amyloid dementia treatment marks a new twist in the ongoing rollercoaster of research looking for drugs to reduce build-up of the protein commonly thought to be the key cause of Alzheimer's.

Electrical spinal stimulation can help paralyzed people walk again. In a promising new clinical trial, scientists have identified the specific neurons being stimulated, and found that patients can still walk even after the implant was turned off.

Researchers have discovered a unique fat molecule in the brain may have anti-inflammatory effects. Animal studies found levels of the molecule decline with age and their absence could contribute to inflammation associated with neurodegeneration.

Striking new research proposes taking a common anti-inflammatory drug soon after experiencing a traumatic event could help people forget upsetting memories and reduce their risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A new study has shed light on how an experimental drug can reverse some of the damage associated with traumatic brain injury. The findings lay the groundwork for a drug that could prevent the cognitive deficits that follow on from concussion.

Scientists have demonstrated that clusters of brain cells in a lab dish can be taught to play Pong in an approximation of sentience. This is the first time that these cells have performed goal-directed tasks, opening the door for better brain models.