News and Announcements

Northwestern Medicine scientists have uncovered new insights into how neurofilaments act like Velcro in neurodegenerative diseases, clogging up the brain and preventing normal function, according to a study published in the journal JCI Insight.

A Northwestern Medicine study published in Nature Medicine used a new technique called spatial transcriptomics to examine the brain’s response to Alzheimer’s therapies, revealing new molecular targets that could enhance the effectiveness of current therapies and not just slow the disease, but potentially improve patient outcomes. David Gate, PhD, assistant professor of Neurology in the Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology and director of the Abrams Research Center on Neurogenomics, led this research.

Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to reduce dementia risk. The Mesulam Center's Jane Stocks spoke about the benefits of staying active and the potential correlation between an active lifestyle and cognitive function.

Through decades of research on SuperAgers, Mesulam Center researchers are reshaping perceptions of aging, highlighting the potential for longevity, vitality, and resilience in later life.

Feinberg experienced a year of stellar growth and scientific achievement in 2024, from honors and awards to unprecedented research discoveries.

Music can bridge the gaps memory loss creates. Dr. Borna Bonakdarpour and the Northwestern Music and Medicine Program are studying how music can tap into the brain’s resilience, fostering connection and joy.

Prioritizing social connections may be a powerful addition to the brain health checklist, says Dr. Tamar Gefen, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and co-director of the Northwestern University SuperAging Research Program (NUSAP). Research now shows that regular social engagement can help preserve brain volume, slow cognitive decline, and lower dementia risk in older adults, adding to the established benefits of healthy eating, exercise, and adequate sleep.

Borna Bonakdarpour, MD, is an associate professor of Neurology in the Division of Behavioral Neurology. His laboratory uses multimodal neuroimaging to study the underlying neural mechanisms of language impairment (aphasia) and impairment in other areas of cognition and use this information to develop and evaluate effective treatments for aphasia.

In this enlightening episode of Research Renaissance, Deborah Westphal speaks with Dr. Robert Vassar, a renowned neuroscientist and Director of the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease at Northwestern University. Dr. Vassar shares his personal journey into the field of Alzheimer’s research, the evolution of diagnostic tools, and the latest technological breakthroughs in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.

Northwestern Medicine scientists have discovered that mitochondria are not necessary for the proliferation of immune cells called microglia, but do help them respond to demyelinating injury, according to a study published in Nature Metabolism.