ALT Your gift. Doubled. Every gift to the American Brain Foundation will be matched 1:1 through December 31st.

ALT A new study offers a clue as to why some people with the APOE4 gene develop Alzheimer’s and others don’t. Dr. Caghan Kizil, recipient of a 2026 Cure One Cure Many Catalyst Award in Neuroinflammation, and his team shed light on why some people with the strongest genetic risk for Alzheimer’s never develop the disease.

ALT The genetic variant APOE4 is the strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s. Studying this how this gene works, Dr. Kizil and colleagues found that inflammation triggers production of the protein fibronectin, which damages the blood–brain barrier (BBB).

ALT While it was known that damage to the BBB is an early feature of Alzheimers, this research is the first to explain the biological mechanism for this. Support cells produce fibronectin in response to inflammation, which causes further inflammation and directly damages the BBB.

ALT What's Next? While APOE4 is an unpreventable genetic mutation, inflammation is modifiable. If care providers can identify and target the inflammation that causes the fibronectin response, this potentially could lead to a prevention strategy for Alzheimer’s disease, even in non-genetic cases.

ALT What you should know about adrenoleukodystrophy.

ALT What is adrenoleukodystrophy? Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. ALD results from the destruction of the protective myelin sheaths that insulate nerve fibers in the brain and central nervous system. If untreated, ALD can lead to permanent disability or death two to five years after diagnosis. What causes ALD? ALD is caused by a mutation in the ABCD1 gene on the X chromosome, but it can be inherited from either or both parents.

ALT 1 in 18,000 people have ALD. 35-40% of boys with a mutated ABCD1 gene develop the disease. There is a 50% chance that a pregnant woman carrying the faulty gene will pass it on to a child.

ALT Meet a researcher studying ALD. Danielle Kim, PhD is the 2025 Next Generation Research Grant Recipient studying ALD. Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a genetic disease that causes harmful fatty substances to build up in the brain. About one-third of boys with ALD develop cerebral ALD, which leads to brain damage. Dr. Kim is studying whether vitamin D can protect the brain by improving blood flow and boosting antioxidants.

ALT Eating ice cream can cause “brain freeze” or a temporary headache. Biologically this is an action of the trigeminal nerve.

ALT Have you ever experienced “brain freeze”—a brief headache that happens when you eat ice cream or a similar cold treat? Officially classified as a “cold-stimulus headache,” this phenomenon has been difficult to study because in most cases, the duration lasts for less than 30 seconds. One study found that kids who ate ice cream quickly (within 5 seconds) were about twice as likely to experience brain freeze as those who ate the same amount more slowly (within 30 seconds).

ALT A recent article in The Conversation explains that it’s thought to be triggered by a sensation of the trigeminal nerve, one of the 12 cranial nerves that connect directly to the brain, bypassing the spinal cord. When the nerve senses the cold temperature, it causes pain in the forehead, temples, or around the eyes. There’s also thought to be an interaction between nerve signaling and blood flow.

ALT What's next? Further research could establish whether or not there is an association between this type of headache and migraine, for example if people with migraine are more likely to experience an ice cream headache, if so, how that might expand scientific understanding of migraine.

ALT The 2026 American Brain Foundation Gala features an exclusive musical performance by Tony and Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actor, bestselling author, and star of Hamilton, Leslie Odom, Jr.

ALT American Brain Foundation Gala 2026 Game Changer Awardee Wounded Warrior Project.

ALT Mental health research: A single dose of psilocybin, the psychedelic substance in magic mushrooms, can produce physical changes in the brain that last for weeks.

ALT Researchers found that a single dose of psilocybin produced changes in brain activity and possibly brain structure that lasted up to a month. Participants who experienced the largest increase in flexible brain activity reported more improvements to their well-being.

ALT "Psilocybin seems to loosen up stereotyped patterns of brain activity and give people the ability to revise entrenched patterns of thought. ... The fact that these changes track with insight and improved well-being is especially exciting." —Taylor Lyons, PhD, Imperial College London

ALT What’s Next? The findings from this study could help clinicians improve psilocybin therapies for mental health conditions, for example by identifying an ideal dose that produces a sufficient increase in meaningful insight without having too intense of a psychedelic experience.

ALT The first-ever disease-modifying treatment for Alexander disease has received FDA approval. Alexander disease is a rare, progressive genetic disorder that damages the nervous system and destroys the white matter in the brain.

ALT When mutated genes produce abnormal versions of the protein GFAP, these can accumulate in the brain and damage the nervous system. The drug Zanvastro (zilganersen) works by reducing GFAP production.

ALT “As a clinician who cares for people living with Alexander disease, I see firsthand the profound and progressive impact this disease has on individuals and their families...zilganersen has the potential to change the trajectory of this devastating disease.” —Amy Waldman, MD Pediatric neurologist and lead investigator for the Phase 1-3 zilganersen study at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia 2007 American Brain Foundation Next Generation Research Grantee

ALT What’s Next? The drug, administered by spinal injection every three months, will provide much-needed therapy for both pediatric and adult patients with Alexander disease.

ALT Up to 45% of dementia risk could be prevented or delayed, according to the World Health Organization.

ALT "We know more today than ever before about what drives dementia risk, and these guidelines translate that knowledge into action", said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

ALT Updated Guidelines: The WHO first published guidelines on reducing dementia risk in 2019, but so much research data has been collected since then that the organization decided to update these recommendations. Researchers continue to search for cures, but in the meantime, a significant portion of the risk (up to 45%) is attributed to modifiable risk factors.

ALT Modifiable Risk Factors: Modifiable risk factors include behaviors such as: Tobacco use, Alcohol use, Physical inactivity, Social isolation, Exposure to environmental pollution, Noncommunicative diseases. Following healthcare providers’ recommendations to prevent cardiovascular disease can make a big difference. Eat a nutritious diet. Maintain good blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Get sufficient exercise. Try to reduce excess body weight. Get plenty of good quality sleep.