Research

  • Neurologists lobby US lawmakers on brain research

    Two hundred neurologists will urge US lawmakers in Washington, D.C., to maintain brain research funding and protect patient access to care. The American Academy of Neurology is holding its 24th annual "Neurology on the Hill" event from 22 to 24 February 2026, with delegates from 47 states set to press politicians on three issues: research [...]

  • Biotech names lead Huntington’s drug candidate

    Harness Therapeutics has named HRN001 as its lead Huntington’s disease drug candidate and set out plans to advance the programme towards clinical trials. Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurodegenerative condition that causes progressive problems with movement, thinking and mental health, with death often occurring within 15 years of symptoms starting. There are currently no approved [...]

  • Depression may indicate future Parkinson’s diagnosis, study suggests

    Depression can appear years before a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia, new research has revealed, suggesting it may be an early indicator of neurological disease. A long-term study found people who later developed Parkinson’s disease or Lewy body dementia were significantly more likely to experience depression than those with other serious chronic [...]

  • Depression symptoms improve after single DMT dose, study finds

    A single dose of DMT given alongside psychotherapy has been shown to ease symptoms of major depression, with benefits lasting for months, according to a small clinical trial. The trial found that people receiving the psychedelic treatment saw rapid improvements in depressive symptoms, which continued well beyond the short period during which the drug was [...]

  • MRI opens door to better treatments for Parkinson’s-like conditions

    Advanced MRI analysis could improve early diagnosis of two rare conditions often mistaken for Parkinson’s disease, research suggests. The study indicates that detailed assessment of brain scan patterns can distinguish between progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD), even at early stages. Both conditions are neurodegenerative diseases that cause balance problems, falls, stiffness and [...]

  • Mediterranean diet may slow MS disability

    Following a Mediterranean diet may help slow disability progression in people with early multiple sclerosis, partly by reducing biological ageing, news research suggests. The findings point to a link between diet, biological age and disability, suggesting lifestyle choices could influence long-term outcomes in MS. Biological age reflects how old cells and tissues appear, based on [...]

  • Spinal cord research could accelerate regenerative therapies

    US researchers have developed a human spinal cord organoid model that reproduces injury responses and could speed regenerative therapies. Organoids are mini versions of organs grown from stem cells that mimic real tissue structure and function. For the first time, the model accurately replicated cell death, inflammation and glial scarring, a dense barrier that blocks [...]

  • Air pollution linked to MND risk and progression

    Long-term air pollution may raise the risk of motor neurone disease and worsen outcomes after diagnosis, new research suggests. The study, one of the largest to examine this link, tracked 1,463 people newly diagnosed with MND in Sweden, comparing them with over 7,300 population controls and nearly 1,800 sibling controls to account for genetic and [...]

  • Protein discovery could lead to new Parkinson’s treatments

    Two proteins on motor neurons in the brain may drive the progression of Parkinson's, new research suggests. Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative condition in which neurons slowly die. A misfolded protein called α-synuclein builds up and spreads between cells, damaging brain tissue. A new study points to two membrane proteins, mGluR4 and NPDC1, as major players [...]

  • UK developing ‘world’s first’ mobile quantum brain scanner to measure blast effects on troops

    Scientists are building a mobile quantum brain scanner, claimed to be the first of its kind, to measure blast effects on military personnel in real time. The UK Ministry of Defence has put in £3.1m for the device, allowing researchers to assess brain function within minutes of a blast and to monitor recovery at training [...]