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Pusan National University researchers develop light-activated tissue adhesive patch for rapid, watertight neurosurgical sealing

Researchers have developed a breakthrough light-responsive Janus dural patch using photocurable hyaluronic acid, providing strong wet adhesion and preventing unwanted tissue adhesion. The patch seals wounds within five seconds with minimal swelling and high biocompatibility.

SourcePusan National University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 16, 2026

40-Hz auditory stimulation shows long-term efficacy in aged monkeys, offering potential for non-invasive Alzheimer's therapy

Researchers demonstrated that 40-Hz auditory stimulation significantly elevates beta-amyloid levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of aged rhesus monkeys, with effects persisting for over five weeks. The study provides evidence supporting 40-Hz stimulation as a non-invasive therapy for Alzheimer's disease.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 5, 2026

This is your brain without sleep

Researchers found that sleep-deprived individuals experience attentional failures coinciding with a flushing of CSF from the brain. During these lapses, physiological changes occur, including a flux of CSF out and then back in. The study suggests that the brain attempts to compensate for lost cleansing by initiating pulses of CSF flow.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateOct 29, 2025

Deep sleep supports memory via brain fluid and neural rhythms

Researchers have discovered that deep sleep plays a crucial role in controlling cerebrospinal fluid dynamics, which is essential for clearing waste from the brain. During slow-wave sleep, changes in cerebrospinal fluid signals are time-locked to slow brain waves and other neural events.

SourceRIKEN·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 16, 2025

USC researchers develop low-cost blood test for early Alzheimer’s detection

Researchers from USC Keck School of Medicine have developed a low-cost blood test that detects five biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease, including amyloid and tau proteins. The test uses xMAP technology and has the potential to catch the disease in its earliest stages, when treatment might be able to prevent or delay cognitive decline.

SourceKeck School of Medicine of USC·JournalJournal of Alzheimer’s Disease·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 15, 2025

Breakthrough study led by CHLA neurologists links blood-brain barrier dysfunction and inflammation with Down syndrome regression disorder

Researchers have identified signs of neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction in patients with Down syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD). The study, published in Annals of Clinical and Translational Neurology, reveals a potential immune-related cause for DSRD.

SourceChildren's Hospital Los Angeles·JournalAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·TypeCase study·DateMar 14, 2025

New blood test could improve Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis, research finds

A new blood test has shown promise in improving the accuracy of Alzheimer's Disease diagnosis, with results comparable to established CSF biomarkers. The study found that measuring plasma p-tau217 was over 90% accurate, potentially replacing invasive diagnostic methods for up to half of patients.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 14, 2025

Brain’s waste-clearance pathways revealed for the first time

A new study has definitively revealed the presence of an efficient waste-clearance system within the human brain, showing that cerebrospinal fluid flows through specific pathways to clear metabolic wastes generated by brain energy. Lifestyle measures and medications can maintain and enhance this system.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeImaging analysis·DateOct 7, 2024

Rapid test of cerebrospinal fluid decreases time to diagnosis for brain tumors

Researchers developed a rapid genotyping test for patients with central nervous system lesions, detecting key mutations associated with brain cancers in samples taken during a lumbar puncture. The test eliminated the need for surgical brain biopsies in seven cases and significantly accelerated time to treatment, from an average of 12 d...

SourceMass General Brigham·JournalBlood·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 17, 2024

UTHealth Houston report in NEJM: Deadly fungal infection acquired during surgery in Mexico led to death and brainstem, blood supply injuries

A life-threatening mold infection known as Fusarium solani meningitis can cause devastating brainstem and blood supply injuries among healthy patients. The fungus was resistant to all antifungal agents except Fosmanogepix, leading to the development of an experimental treatment.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 7, 2024

EMBARGOED UNTIL JAN. 8 @ 3 PM EST: UTHealth Houston study: EBV-specific T-cells play key role in development of multiple sclerosis

Researchers from UTHealth Houston discovered that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific T-cells are present in high numbers in the cerebrospinal fluid of people with multiple sclerosis at its earliest stages. The study suggests that these cells may be contributing to the disease's pathogenesis.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 8, 2024

Post-COVID condition is not linked to ongoing infection or active brain damage

A recent study by the University of Gothenburg found no correlation between post-COVID condition and ongoing viral infection or active brain damage. The study analyzed 25 participants with confirmed post-COVID condition, six without residual symptoms, and 17 control subjects, revealing undetectable SARS-CoV-2 antigens in all samples.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·TypeObservational study·DateOct 25, 2023

Anti-anxiety drug may improve brain cancer survival chances

A new study published in Science Advances suggests that a decades-old anti-anxiety drug can improve the effectiveness of chemo-radiotherapy towards glioblastoma, the most common and lethal brain cancer. The researchers found that the drug trifluoperazine can re-sensitize tumor cells to both therapies, leading to improved patient survival.

SourceFlinders University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2023

Could cerebrospinal fluid leaks be a link between traumatic brain injury and dementia?

Researchers propose that cerebrospinal fluid leaks could contribute to the link between traumatic brain injury and dementia. The hypothesis suggests that treating these leaks could mitigate dementia symptoms in some patients with a history of TBI. Further research is needed to confirm this potential association.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalAlzheimer s & Dementia Translational Research & Clinical Interventions·DateSep 21, 2023

Researchers create a new window on leading genetic cause of Alzheimer’s

Scientists have detected over 300 proteins associated with lipoproteins in the central nervous system, far more than previously thought. The most common protein, apolipoprotein E (APOE), plays a key role in delivering nutrient-rich lipids and protein tools to perform tasks such as wound healing and neuron creation.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·TypeImaging analysis·DateSep 12, 2023

Daily flushing regimen with simple implant may prevent shunt clogs and reduce revision surgeries in patients with hydrocephalus

Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina describe a new, non-surgical approach to managing hydrocephalus by implanting a shunt-clearing device and performing daily flushing. The study shows promising results, reducing revision surgeries and improving patient outcomes.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalPediatric Neurosurgery·TypeObservational study·DateAug 2, 2023

Tau-based biomarker tracks Alzheimer’s progression

A new biomarker, MTBR-tau243, tracks Alzheimer's disease progression by measuring levels of a specific form of tau in cerebrospinal fluid. The finding has major implications for diagnosing and staging the disease, and could accelerate the development of effective treatments.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·TypeObservational study·DateJul 13, 2023

A Chinese Neurosurgical Journal study presents consensus on the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage-related hydrocephalus is a complex syndrome that can lead to cognitive impairment and neurological damage. The new consensus guideline recommends standard-of-care approaches, including history review, head CT scans, and medications or surgical interventions to manage excessive intracranial pressure.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalChinese Neurosurgical Journal·TypeLiterature review·DateJun 12, 2023

A key biological pathway for multiple sclerosis is uncovered by Mount Sinai researchers

Researchers at Mount Sinai have discovered a previously unknown way in which the brain and immune system interact in multiple sclerosis. They found that the inflammatory protein interleukin-3 (IL-3) coordinates this communication, inciting the recruitment of immune cells to the brain and exacerbating brain inflammation.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalImmunity·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2023

Fluid flow in the brain can be manipulated by sensory stimulation

A new study by Boston University researchers reveals that visual stimulation can induce large-scale changes in cerebrospinal fluid flow during wakefulness. The findings have implications for treating conditions like Alzheimer's disease, which are associated with declines in fluid flow.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 30, 2023

Novel immunotherapy delivery approach safe and beneficial for some melanoma patients with leptomeningeal disease

Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have developed a novel approach to administer intrathecal and intravenous immunotherapy to treat leptomeningeal disease (LMD) in melanoma patients, showing promising results in improving survival rates and quality of life for some patients.

Fats help tag medical implants as friend or foe

Researchers discovered that lipid deposition on medical implant surfaces can signal to the immune system whether to attack or ignore the implant. This knowledge could help develop biomaterials that deflect host immune aggression, reducing malfunction rates for devices like pacemakers and surgical mesh.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2023