Topic description and stories

Neuroscience has transformed our understanding of the brain and promises treatments for devastating disorders that affect millions.

Charts map rapid growth and slow decline of brains

06 April 2022

An international team of researchers has created a series of brain charts spanning our entire lifespan – from a 15 week old fetus to 100 year old adult – that show how our brains expand rapidly in early life and slowly shrink as we age. 

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Male

Cuts to mental health services putting young people at risk, say experts

15 Sep 2017

Funding cuts and austerity measures are damaging young people’s access to mental health services, with potentially long-term consequences for their...

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Hand showing leprosy

Leprosy turns the immune system against itself, study finds

23 Aug 2017

Leprosy hijacks our immune system, turning an important repair mechanism into one that causes potentially irreparable damage to our nerve cells...

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Studies begin on first Huntington’s disease sheep imported to UK

09 Jul 2017

Scientists at the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge will this week begin studying sheep that have been genetically modified to carry the mutation that causes...

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Screenshot of Game Show

‘Brain training’ app found to improve memory in people with mild cognitive impairment

03 Jul 2017

A ‘brain training’ game developed by researchers at the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge could help improve the memory of patients in the very earliest stages...

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Anxiety centred

Opinion: Surprising ways to beat anxiety and become mentally strong – according to science

26 Jun 2017

Most people experience anxiety at some point in their lives, but for some it can be a crippling condition. Writing for ̽»¨Ö±²¥Conversation , Olivia...

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Exercise Plays Vital Role Maintaining Brain Health (edited)

Cambridge BRAINFest 2017 kicks off a weekend celebrating the wonders of the brain

23 Jun 2017

Cambridge today (23 June) begins a three-day celebration of the wonders of the brain, with talks, hands-on activities and a ‘secret cinema’ – all...

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Brain showing hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (plaques in blue)

Computer-designed antibodies target toxins associated with Alzheimer’s disease

22 Jun 2017

Researchers at the ̽»¨Ö±²¥ of Cambridge have designed antibodies that target the protein deposits in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease...

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Genes influence ability to read a person’s mind from their eyes

07 Jun 2017

Our DNA influences our ability to read a person’s thoughts and emotions from looking at their eyes, suggests a new study published in the journal...

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brain 22

Stimulate your brain with the Cambridge BRAINFest 2017

05 Jun 2017

Why are we getting so fat? Why do teenagers really need to lie-in? And can we fix a broken brain? These are just some of the questions that will be...

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Baby with microcephaly

New insights into how the Zika virus causes brain birth defect

01 Jun 2017

Scientists have uncovered why Zika virus may specifically target neural stem cells in the developing brain, potentially leading to microcephaly – a...

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Dieting

Why our brain cells may prevent us burning fat when we’re dieting

23 May 2017

A study carried out in mice may help explain why dieting can be an inefficient way to lose weight: key brain cells act as a trigger to prevent us...

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Professor Brian Cox

Brains or beauty? People perceive attractive scientists as more interesting but less able, studies show

22 May 2017

If you think of good science communicators, it’s likely that the names Brian Cox, Alice Roberts or Neil deGrasse Tyson may come to mind. But do you...

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