Simon Spichak

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to three scientists for discovering light-sensitive proteins that switch nerve cells on and off.

Scientists have spent decades trying to get medicine across the blood-brain barrier. Two treatments for a rare genetic disorder have already made it through. Now an experimental Alzheimer’s drug is putting the same strategy to a much bigger test.

A small Phase 2 trial will test an anti-inflammatory drug in former football players at high risk of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Trials of cholesterol-lowering drugs have failed to move the needle for Alzheimer’s. A new class of these drugs might nudge the disease’s biomarkers.

Scientists discovered genes in brain cells called oligodendrocytes whose effects could counteract APOE4 risk and inspire new treatments.

AbbVie’s Juvmo will be available in October as a standalone or add-on therapy for treating Parkinson’s motor symptoms.

Her husband had a rare genetic mutation that caused frontotemporal dementia. Now Tanya Steel is pushing for research targeting the gene.

A new approach to treating Alzheimer’s focuses on targeting dysfunctional cells rather than beta-amyloid or tau tangles.

The trial, run by researchers at McMaster University in Canada, is testing the Lightning Process, a pseudoscientific mind-body program that outside experts have heavily criticized.

Scientists are studying whether changes in gut bacteria and nerves might be the earliest signs of Parkinson’s.

A new imaging test may improve Alzheimer’s diagnosis by measuring tau tangles in the brain.

Researchers discovered new genes implicated in Alzheimer’s, unlocking new targets for potential treatments.

Scientists are using patterns of chemical modifications at the DNA level and predicted brain age to try and predict who is at risk of dementia.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus, which stopped Billy Joel’s tour last summer, is a rare cause of dementia that may be treatable through surgery,

As AI rapidly makes its way into elementary classrooms, understanding the potential impact on children’s learning and development has become more pressing. In this News and Perspectives article, JMIR Correspondent Simon Spichak reports on what experts are saying and doing about the potential benefits and risks.

Is electricity the next frontier in monitoring and treating brain tumors and other cancers? In this News and Perspectives article, JMIR Correspondent Simon Spichak reports on advances in the emerging cancer neuroscience field.

The road to diagnosis can be long and sometimes unending for rare diseases, requiring training and resources that many clinics do not have. In this News and Perspectives article, JMIR Correspondent Simon Spichak reports on how AI initiatives at a children’s hospital in the United States and one in Canada are helping bridge that gap and could fundamentally reshape the diagnostic experience for children and families living with rare diseases.

A newer tau PET tracer shows it may spot Alzheimer’s tangles earlier and provide more accurate disease staging.

AI is moving deeper into the realm of scholarly publishing, with tools developed to help researchers assess research and evaluate their manuscripts. In this News and Perspectives article, JMIR Correspondent Simon Spichak reports on how researchers are responding to some of these tools.

A new study suggests that blood biomarkers might detect subtle signs of cognitive decline, but it doesn’t follow them to see if they develop Alzheimer’s.