Neuroscience

Researchers have created a detailed brain organoid mimicking the developing cerebral cortex, complete with blood vessels that closely resemble those in a real brain. This advance addresses a key limitation in lab-grown mini-brains, potentially allowing them to survive longer and provide deeper insights into neurological conditions. The organoid, grown from human stem cells, features evenly distributed vessels with hollow centers, marking a significant step forward in brain research.

January 27, 2026 由 AI 报道 事实核查

University of Michigan researchers using fruit flies report that changes in sugar metabolism can influence whether injured neurons and their axons deteriorate or persist. The work, published in *Molecular Metabolism*, describes a context-dependent response involving the proteins DLK and SARM1 that can briefly slow axon degeneration after injury, a finding the team says could inform future strategies for neurodegenerative disease research.

A new study has shown that the brain regions controlling facial expressions in macaques work together in unexpected ways, challenging prior assumptions about their division of labor. Researchers led by Geena Ianni at the University of Pennsylvania used advanced neural recordings to reveal how these gestures are encoded. The findings could pave the way for future brain-computer interfaces that decode facial signals for patients with neurological impairments.

January 20, 2026 由 AI 报道 事实核查

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University report they have identified an abnormal interaction between the Parkinson’s-linked protein alpha-synuclein and the enzyme ClpP that disrupts mitochondrial function in experimental models. They also describe an experimental compound, CS2, designed to block that interaction, which they say improved movement and cognitive performance and reduced brain inflammation in lab and mouse studies.

A large-scale international study has found that age-related memory decline stems from broad structural changes across the brain, rather than a single region or gene. Analyzing over 10,000 MRI scans from thousands of healthy adults, researchers observed that brain shrinkage's impact on memory intensifies nonlinearly in later life. The findings highlight a distributed vulnerability that accelerates memory loss once a tipping point is reached.

January 12, 2026 由 AI 报道

Scientists at Brown University have identified a subtle brain activity pattern that can forecast Alzheimer's disease in people with mild cognitive impairment up to two and a half years in advance. Using magnetoencephalography and a custom analysis tool, the researchers detected changes in neuronal electrical signals linked to memory processing. This noninvasive approach offers a potential new biomarker for early detection.