Brain Health

Your brain resets at ages 9, 32, 66 and 83: Study maps life's neural shifts

A new Nature Communications study finds brain ageing isn't linear, with key network 'turning points' at 9, 32, 66 and 83 that mark distinct phases from childhood to late life

How heavy metals in polluted air trigger fatigue, headaches and brain fog

Beyond PM2.5 and PM10, polluted air carries neurotoxic metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium that inflame the brain, disrupt energy pathways and trigger fatigue and fogginess on high-AQI days

From birth to 90: The five big turning points that rewire the human brain

Scientists studying around 4,000 brain scans have found that the human brain grows and changes in five major stages, with key shifts around ages nine, 32, 66 and 83

How starting exercise in your 40s can reduce dementia risk by nearly half

A major long-term study tracking adults for 37 yrs finds that regular physical activity in your 40s, 50s and beyond can cut dementia risk by up to 45 per cent, even in those with genetic vulnerability

Watching a lot of reels, short videos? It hurts your brain, says study

Heavy use of Reels, Shorts and TikTok may impair attention, increase stress and anxiety, and disrupt sleep, according to a new review of 98,299 people examining the cognitive toll of short-form videos

30,000 brain scans show junk foods alter brain regions that regulate eating

Using data from 30,000 adults, researchers say ultra-processed foods may alter key brain regions linked to hunger, reward and overeating, raising new questions about long-term health risks

Why smoking tobacco with cannabis may drain the brain's bliss molecule

A new study using advanced brain imaging suggests that people who use both tobacco and cannabis may have lower activity of the brain's natural "bliss molecule", hinting at why quitting feels harder

Fasting and focus: Science shows your brain performs just fine without food

Adults showed no measurable decline in mental performance when fasting, but children and adolescents did worse on tests when they skipped meals

Having neurodevelopmental condition could be linked with early death: Study

Having a neurodevelopmental condition such as autism and ADHD could be related with a nearly five times higher chance of dying before age 25, compared to those without, according to a study conducted in New Zealand. While relative risk between the two groups is high, it is important to remember that deaths in this group remain rare, said lead author Nick Bowden, from the University of Otago's department of paediatrics and child health. Symptoms of neurodevelopmental conditions can emerge in early childhood, impairing one's development in skills such as language, communication or behaviour. Social communication and behaviour is affected in autism, while ability to pay attention and focus on a task and emotion regulation is impaired in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using the StatsNZ database, the researchers followed nearly nine lakh children born between 1995 and 2009 until 2019. About 40,000 (4.5 per cent) of the total had a neurodevelopmental condition, identif

How the air you breathe could be silently harming your brain health

Studies increasingly find links between higher concentrations of certain pollutants and the prevalence of dementia

Rare brain disorder found in four sisters: Doctors call it extraordinary

A West Virginia family's story has stunned doctors after four sisters were diagnosed with Chiari malformation, a rare structural brain defect seldom seen in more than one sibling

Stress and heartbreak may have triggered Kim Kardashian's brain aneurysm

Reality star Kim Kardashian linked her brain aneurysm to extreme stress after her divorce. Neurologists explain why mental strain can have dangerous physical effects

Science meets art: Parkinson's patient plays clarinet during brain surgery

Once unable to play due to tremors, Denise Bacon played her clarinet mid-surgery, showing how music and medicine can work together to restore movement and hope

Air pollution linked to dementia, caused 626,000 deaths worldwide in 2023

For the first time, the State of Global Air 2025 report quantifies how dirty air affects the brain, broadening pollution's toll beyond heart and lung diseases

New study reveals brain's predictive mechanism behind focus, hearing

The findings could help improve hearing aids, attention training, and brain-computer interfaces by revealing how the brain filters and prioritises sound

New brain study reveals why music makes us move, feel, and connect

A new study reveals that our brains sync effortlessly with sound rhythms, showing why music moves us more deeply than any other sensation

Chronic stress harms your memory. Here's how to protect your brain

Constant pressure floods your brain with cortisol, disrupting focus and memory, but experts say simple daily habits can help protect your mind

Think one drink is harmless? It may raise your dementia risk, study warns

New research shows even light or moderate drinking may steadily harm the brain and increase long-term risk of dementia, debunking the myth of "healthy drinking"

Poor sleep may age your brain faster, scientists find in major study

A large MRI-based study of 27,500 adults finds that poor sleep may make the brain look up to a year older than its real age, suggesting that better sleep could slow brain ageing

Low omega-3 could be draining your energy and focus: Here's how to fix it

From dull skin to brain fog, omega-3 deficiency can quietly drain your vitality. Experts share how to spot the signs early and restore your balance naturally