New targeted therapy shows early success in treating pediatric high-grade gliomas

An international team of clinical collaborators, led by physician scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, performed a first-ever clinical test of the targeted therapy avapritinib in pediatric and young patients with a form of high-grade glioma. They found that the drug, already FDA-approved for certain adult cancers, was generally safe and resulted in tumor reduction visible … Read more

Daytime sleepiness may double dementia risk in elderly women

For women in their 80s, experiencing increasing sleepiness during the day over a five-year period is associated with double the risk of developing dementia during that time, according to a study published on March 19, 2025, online in Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study does not prove that daytime … Read more

Study identifies brain areas crucial for word memory in epilepsy

The parts of the brain that are needed to remember words, and how these are affected by a common form of epilepsy, have been identified by a team of neurologists and neurosurgeons at UCL. The new study, published in Brain Communications, found that shrinkage in the front and side of the brain (prefrontal, temporal and … Read more

Strawberries enhance brain speed and heart health, but cognitive benefits remain unclear

Want to sharpen your mind and lower blood pressure? Study reveals how a daily strawberry habit could help—but there’s a catch. Study: Strawberries modestly improve cognition and cardiovascular health in older adults. Image Credit: Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases, researchers investigated whether strawberries improve cardiovascular health … Read more

Experimental drug shows promise in reducing risk of Alzheimer’s-related dementia

An experimental drug appears to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s-related dementia in people destined to develop the disease in their 30s, 40s or 50s, according to the results of a study led by the Knight Family Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network-Trials Unit (DIAN-TU), which is based at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The … Read more

Study sheds light on brain activity during learning in mice

By revealing for the first time what happens in the brain when an animal makes a mistake, Johns Hopkins University researchers are shedding light on the holy grail of neuroscience: the mechanics of how we learn. The team pinpointed the exact moment mice learned a new skill by observing the activity of individual neurons, confirming … Read more

UCLA Health discovers drug that mimics stroke rehabilitation effects in mice

A new study by UCLA Health has discovered what researchers say is the first drug to fully reproduce the effects of physical stroke rehabilitation in model mice, following from human studies. The findings, published in Nature Communications, tested two candidate drugs derived from their studies on the mechanism of the brain effects of rehabilitation, of … Read more

Understanding the role of CD2AP in Alzheimer’s disease

A groundbreaking peer-reviewed Thought Leaders Invited Review article in Brain Medicine (Genomic Press, New York) explores how CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), one of the most devastating neurodegenerative disorders affecting millions worldwide. CD2AP, initially identified for its role in cellular transport and cytoskeletal architecture, has now emerged as a crucial factor in … Read more

Study uncovers bacteria’s role in brain implant inflammation

Brain implants hold immense promise for restoring function in patients with paralysis, epilepsy and other neurological disorders. But a team of researchers at Case Western Reserve University has discovered that bacteria can invade the brain after a medical device is implanted, contributing to inflammation and reducing the device’s long-term effectiveness.  The groundbreaking research, recently published … Read more

Testing a novel approach to restore normal heart function in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1

Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 (DM1) is the most common adult-onset form of muscular dystrophy and a condition that severely affects multiple organs including skeletal muscle, heart, brain and the gastrointestinal tract. Cardiac problems affect 50% of individuals with DM1 and are the second leading cause of mortality, after respiratory insufficiency resulting from skeletal muscle wasting. … Read more