https://medicalxpress.com/neurology-news/ en-us Latest medical news and research in Neurology Repeated menstrual cycles may do more than trigger endometriosis. They may rewire the brain. That is the key finding from a new Washington State University study showing that recurring inflammation linked to the disease can sensitize the nervous system, driving lasting pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-endometriosis-chronic-debilitating-pain.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:20:01 EDT news695549521 Drugs once hailed as a breakthrough in the fight against Alzheimer's disease do not meaningfully help patients, a major review found Thursday, however some experts criticized the research. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-hyped-alzheimer-drugs-amyloid-brought.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 05:02:55 EDT news695534509 Research published earlier this year found the strongest evidence yet that the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has played a key role driving up autism diagnoses in Australia. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-autism-largely-fueled-national-disability.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:40:01 EDT news695472781 Drugs that target amyloid beta proteins in the brain likely have no clinically meaningful positive effects, while increasing the risk of bleeding and swelling in the brain, a new review in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews has found. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-anti-amyloid-alzheimer-drugs-clinically.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:00:06 EDT news695456425 A research team from the Cognitive Neurotechnology Unit and the Visual Perception and Cognition Laboratory at Toyohashi University of Technology investigated how facial expressions are perceived when a face is located behind an observer. Participants wearing a head-mounted display observed 3D face models presented either in front of or behind them in a virtual reality (VR) environment and made binary judgments about the facial expression. The stimuli varied continuously from neutral to angry, and participants judged whether each face appeared neutral or angry. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-brain-stronger-emotions-rewriting-social.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:40:08 EDT news695486449 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a petition to revoke the approval of Roche's top-selling drug ocrelizumab (Ocrevus) for treating primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS)—a form of MS thought to affect around 15% of patients. The petition alleges that the drug was approved despite internal concerns about a lack of effectiveness in women and a potential increased risk of breast cancer. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-women-primary-ms-bestselling-drug.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:30:02 EDT news695468221 A University of Calgary-led study has found evidence that children with genes predisposing them to migraine might have an increased risk of having more headaches after a concussion, which are known to be linked to prolonged symptoms up to six months after the injury. Dr. Serena Orr, MD, an associate professor in the Cumming School of Medicine, and Dr. Keith Yeates, PhD, a professor in the Faculty of Arts, led the study which looked at over 600 children aged 8 to 16 who presented with symptoms of concussion, and followed them for six months post injury. The work is published in the journal Neurology Genetics. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-link-migraine-genetics-concussion-headaches.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 18:00:05 EDT news695485202 Every thought, memory, and feeling we experience depends on trillions of tiny connection points in the brain called synapses. These are the junctions where one neuron passes signals to another, forming the vast communication network known as the connectome—the brain's wiring diagram. Although scientists have developed powerful tools to increase or decrease neural activity, directly redesigning the brain's physical wiring has remained far more difficult. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-synapses-brain-circuit-memory-stronger.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:40:01 EDT news695488201 A team of researchers in the Netherlands has proposed a new way of designing computer models of the brain—an approach that could also influence future artificial intelligence (AI) systems. In most deep learning architectures, information is processed step by step through tens of layers inside the cortex, the brain's main structure involved in high-level functions like perception and decision-making. However, neuroscientists know that the cortex is also closely connected with deeper brain regions, known as subcortical structures—which are involved in processes such as regulating body movement, emotion and learning stimulus-response behaviors—and these connections are overlooked by most artificial neural networks. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-brain-architecture-simulated-fast-flexible.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:30:03 EDT news695490961 Efforts to identify and evaluate next-generation therapeutics for pediatric brain tumors are easily stymied by the quality and availability of laboratory models for research. To address this issue, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have developed patient-derived tumor organoids and tumor organoid xenografts that accurately reflect the biologic underpinnings of embryonal brain tumors. These models utilize the latest technical advances, allowing researchers to perform functional assays and preclinical drug testing faster without relying on newly obtained tumor samples. The models are available to other researchers upon request, providing a resource to help advance the field. The work appears in Science Advances. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-3d-brain-tumor-organoids-scientific.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:30:02 EDT news695492401 A large international study has found that asundexian, an investigational anti-clotting medication, reduces the risk of a stroke in people who recently experienced a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) caused by a clot forming outside of the heart (non-cardioembolic stroke), without increasing bleeding, the most serious and feared complication of existing stroke prevention treatments. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-anti-clotting-medication-lowers-added.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:00:09 EDT news695466481 Air pollution is associated with increased migraine activity, according to a study published in Neurology. Both short-term and cumulative exposure to air pollution as well as climate factors such as heat and humidity were associated with increased migraine activity. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-air-pollution-migraine.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:08 EDT news695463751 Cognitive decline not only affects a woman's quality of life but also her ability to lead an independent lifestyle later in life. A new large-scale study suggests that a longer reproductive lifespan, resulting in greater exposure to endogenous estrogen, is associated with better cognitive health. Results of the study are published in Menopause. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-longer-reproductive-span-linked-slower.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 15:40:01 EDT news695482382 Researchers from the Paris Brain Institute and Sainte-Justine University Hospital in Montreal have, for the first time, revealed the key stages of vascular development in the brain, from birth through adulthood. Using a 3D digital atlas called Lambada, they show that vascularization does not progress continuously, but instead unfolds in three distinct phases, closely linked to the maturation of neural circuits. These findings are published in Cell. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-brain-blood-vessel-network-stage.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:40:04 EDT news695478397 The growing use of electric bikes and scooters has caused a surge in brain and spine injuries among urban riders and pedestrians, a new study shows. Led by NYU Langone Health researchers, the study found that these injuries now account for nearly 7% of trauma patients admitted into a New York City hospital. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-bike-scooter-brain-injuries.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:40:02 EDT news695476622 From van Gogh to Amy Winehouse, the trope of the suffering artist has been around nearly as long as art itself—but is the connection between creativity and pain mere metaphor, or grounded in science? According to Constructor University Neurobiologist Dr. Radwa Khalil, not only do the two share underlying neurological mechanisms, but their connection holds therapeutic potential to use creativity to reshape how our brains process pain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-pain-creativity-brain-machinery-bold.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:00:09 EDT news695476768 A recent move from a leading insurance provider has made it more difficult for AFL and AFLW players to access brain injury insurance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-concussion-athletes.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 13:00:04 EDT news695472541 New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has found that higher sodium intake may negatively affect episodic memory, the type of memory used to recall personal experiences and specific events from one's past such as where you parked your car or your first day of school. The findings suggest that diets high in salt could have broader cognitive impacts than previously understood, highlighting the importance of dietary choices in supporting brain health. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-high-salt-diet-linked-faster.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:20:02 EDT news695469361 Scientists led by Botond Roska at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) have developed MitoCatch, a system that enables targeted delivery of healthy mitochondria to specific cell types affected by disease. This innovation is a major step toward precision mitochondrial therapy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-mitocatch-healthy-mitochondria-diseased-cells.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:07 EDT news695394961 Northwestern University psychologist Andrea Russell sees older adults with early cognitive impairment riddled with anxiety. Some worry a missed word or forgotten appointment could signal Alzheimer's disease. Others fear making a mistake in public. Some are too afraid to ask their doctor. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-alzheimer-patients-blood.html Wed, 15 Apr 2026 07:00:01 EDT news695381641 Every year in the U.S., about a million people are treated at emergency rooms for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and about 50,000 people die from the injuries or complicating factors, according to the International Brain Injury Association. Mild TBIs such as concussions can result from a hit to the head, a fall, car accident, or sports collision. Patients often experience nausea, sleep disturbances, or confusion in mild cases. However, patients with more severe TBI can lose consciousness, have memory loss, or die from the injury. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-tbi-smoothened-agonists-inflammation-neurological.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 20:40:01 EDT news695377413 Older Chinese immigrants living in neighborhoods with greater access to community amenities, services, and supportive infrastructure experienced slower cognitive decline over time, according to Rutgers Health researchers. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-neighborhood-amenities-infrastructure-cognitive-decline.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:00:03 EDT news695377429 Mice make use of rapid nerve cell interactions in the brain's smell center to distinguish one odor from another, a new study shows. Both mice and humans can rapidly identify odors, researchers say, in a small fraction of a second. Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, the study shows that the key steps involved in identifying smells happen in the mouse olfactory bulb, a part of the brain located behind the nose. The function was previously thought to occur in the cerebral cortex, a larger part of the brain known for its role in perception, awareness, and thought. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-fast-mouse-brains-milliseconds.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 19:00:02 EDT news695405701 Millions of neurons branch throughout our bodies, keeping them in close communication with our brains. This peripheral network begins to take shape long before birth, as the cells of a growing embryo move into position and adopt their specialized roles. This crucial stage of human development can't be monitored directly, but by examining genetic clues that linger in adult cells, scientists have now gained surprising insights into the developmental origins of the peripheral nervous system. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-secrets-human-early-nerve-cell.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:00:01 EDT news695404502 Scores from neuropsychological assessments (in-depth, standardized evaluations of how a person's brain functions in various cognitive areas) are widely used to identify underlying cognitive abilities. However, a single score representing a specific cognitive domain often obscures the diverse strategies individuals may employ to complete the test. Additionally, reliance solely on scores can hide subtle cognitive changes, which are especially critical for early detection of cognitive disorders. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-people-approach-problems-dementia.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:40:03 EDT news695400721 Though many studies approach the developmental disorder Rett syndrome as a single condition arising from general loss of function in the gene MECP2, a new study by neuroscientists at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT shows that two different mutations of the gene caused many distinct abnormalities in lab cultures. Moreover, correcting key differences made by each mutation required different treatments. The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-rett-syndrome-highlights-potential-personalized.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:40:01 EDT news695403841 Researchers at UC Santa Barbara are coming ever closer to uncovering the neural circuitry that translates stimulus to action, shining light on previously unseen neural connections and lesser-known functions of neurons that underlie behavior. Neuroscientists Durafshan Sakeena Syed, Primoz Ravbar and Julie H. Simpson have found that inhibitory neurons—nerve cells known to be responsible for suppressing movement—actively generate and coordinate the rhythmic limb movements required for grooming in fruit flies. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-newly-neural-fruit-flies-reveal.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:20:04 EDT news695401975 Hydrocephalus, commonly referred to as "water on the brain," is a dangerous and potentially deadly condition that can harm the brain. For more than a century, physicians have believed that the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain and the organ's inability to absorb CSF is the main cause of hydrocephalus. Now new research led by Stony Brook Medicine neurosurgeon Michael Egnor, MD, suggests this process is not the cause, and if proved true, the finding could revolutionize treatments for hydrocephalus. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-scientists-reconsider-cerebrospinal-fluid-buildup.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:20:03 EDT news695394075 The brain is the body's command center, and neurons are the workhorses that carry out its commands. They transmit signals that regulate many bodily functions, including key metabolic processes such as appetite, body weight and energy expenditure. But how do neurons power all this activity? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-neurons-dont-sugar-hidden-fat.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 13:00:09 EDT news695390041 A new study led by University of Pittsburgh neurosurgeons, otolaryngologists and engineers demonstrates that a mixed reality (MR) streaming platform can deliver surgical performance comparable to traditional 2D video monitors during endoscopic endonasal skull base procedures. The cadaver study, published in Operative Neurosurgery, evaluated whether routing the endoscopic camera feed directly into a surgeon's mixed reality headset could maintain precision while improving ergonomics and workflow. Researchers found no significant differences in key performance measures between the MR view and a conventional 2D display. Additionally, surgeons reported reduced task load when using the MR interface. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-reality-platform-par-standard-screens.html Tue, 14 Apr 2026 12:40:03 EDT news695387942