As a neurologist, Dr. Joe Verghese is dedicated to finding creative strategies for a healthier brain, especially when it helps you simplify your exercise routine. “I don’t always enjoy exercising or the idea of having to do it regularly,” she told Business Insider. In pursuit of a healthier brain, she’s tried everything from balance tests
Research has shown that athletes such as footballers, rugby players, and fighters such as boxers have a significantly higher risk of developing CTE than the general population. CTE can only be diagnosed after death. The disease, caused by repeated blows to the head, has been found in the brains of dozens of former National Football
Stress has widespread effects on the brain.Credit: K H Fung/Science Photo Library Acute stress makes it difficult to link memories of past events with fresh information, a study1 suggests. The results help to explain why people struggle to show insight under pressure. The study, published today in Science Advances, combined brain imaging and psychological testing
Nature, Published online: 20 May 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-01327-9 In mice, motherhood induces transcriptional changes in the brain that endure beyond short-term hormonal shifts. Postpartum stress disrupts these patterns.
Age-related memory decline could be caused by ageing immune cells.Credit: JasonDoiy/Getty A type of immune cell circulating in the blood contributes to cognitive ageing, and blocking its effects can reverse the changes, suggests a mouse study published in Immunity on 14 May1. T cells have many jobs, chiefly destroying pathogens. But as people age, a