Exploring the Brain, One Neuron at a Time

Researchers may have cracked glioblastoma's resistance to treatment by blocking a protein called SET, which restores an enzyme the cancer cells normally suppress. This approach made tumors smaller in preclinical models and increased cancer cells' vulnerability to radiation, though human trials are still needed to confirm safety and effectiveness.

An injectable scaffold developed at Duke helped stroke-damaged brains regrow blood vessels and nerve connections, restoring movement in mice by cleverly recruiting the body's own immune cells. The treatment works by switching neutrophils from harmful to helpful, offering a promising path toward better stroke recovery in humans.

Human microglia, the brain's immune cells, take 4 to 8 years to mature rather than just weeks like in mice—a uniquely human trait that may unlock why our brains develop such extraordinary complexity. This unusually extended development process could fundamentally change how we understand human cognitive evolution.

Brain changes tied to Alzheimer's may begin at least seven years before amyloid plaques show up on standard PET scans, according to a nearly two-decade study tracking healthy older adults. This discovery could enable much earlier detection and intervention, potentially reshaping how doctors approach Alzheimer's prevention.