Professor Matthew C. Kiernan AM Nerve Centrals

Generalist biological artificial intelligence in modeling the language of life go.nature.com/3NdkqaE

Koutsouleris et al. applied machine learning to structural MRI data and found that self-reported cognitive symptoms, but not ultra-high-risk psychosis symptoms, are linked to a distinctive brain signature also seen in schizophrenia. shorturl.at/USI4d

Back in 1994, Gaye and her husband, David, received a life-changing phone call. It was the first time they learned that David carried a genetic variant that meant he would almost certainly develop Alzheimer’s Disease. Gaye recalls their decision to contribute to the research. “We had no idea this was in David’s family. The diagnosis was devastating, but we said yes to research. Yes, to being part of something bigger.” From this moment on, David generously devoted his time and energy to research at NeuRA. Long before symptoms appeared, he chose to take part in the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s Network (DIAN) study at NeuRA. This research has been crucial in helping scientists better understand how this devastating disease develops—and how it might one day be prevented. “David knew the research wouldn’t be in time for him,” Gaye says. “But he hoped it would be in time for our children. That gave him hope.” Thanks to families like Gaye and David’s, and the generosity of NeuRA supporters, we are now closer to changing the course of Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Emma Devenney and her team are running the world’s first primary prevention trial for Alzheimer’s disease. The trial is testing whether we can intervene up to 20 years before symptoms begin, potentially preventing the disease altogether. Progress in medical research is built over time, through the generosity and altruism of people who believe in a better future for others. As a thank you for supporting us, we are offering you the opportunity to create your Will for FREE with Safewill before 30 March. As you create your Will, we ask you to consider including a gift to NeuRA. A gift as small as 1% of your estate will have a profound impact on our ability to accelerate research. We need your help to create a future where families can rely on advances in research to progress prevention, early detection, and treatment options. For more information or a confidential conversation, please call us on 02 9399 1014 or email bequests@neura.edu.au.

It’s Brain Awareness Week! 🧠 This week, we're excited to celebrate the incredible complexity of the human brain and to highlight why it's so important to deepen our understanding of it. To that end, we are pleased to share Neurotorium’s interactive 3D Brain Atlas, created in collaboration with Professor Martin Fredensborg Rath (Denmark). Our 3D Brain Atlas offers, • A 360° view of the human brain • Detailed visualization of cortical and subcortical structures • Concise, expert-written descriptions of selected regions • High-resolution downloadable images for educational use Follow the link to explore and learn more about the human brain: neurotorium.org/tool/brain-atl…

@nervecentrals Important work at a critical time for our health system. Dementia is now one of the defining challenges of our era, and it reinforces a broader truth — brain health must become a national priority. Efforts that bring together awareness, prevention, early detection, and research are essential if we are to reduce the growing burden on individuals, families, and the health system. The recognition that a substantial proportion of dementia is potentially preventable highlights the opportunity we have to act earlier and more effectively across the life course. Encouraging to see NeuRA leading this national conversation and advancing the science. There is much here that can help shape a more integrated, prevention-focused approach to brain health in Australia.@MigraineFounda2 @wfneurology @TheRACP

We were honoured to have Justice Hayley Bennett visit NeuRA and present a set of Aboriginal burial poles in honour of her husband, the late Professor Tony Broe. Justice Bennett, NeuRA CEO Professor Matthew Kiernan and Professor Broe's former colleague, Dr Bill Brooks, spoke of the passion Professor Broe had in his work leading NeuRA's Aboriginal Health & Ageing Group. In addition to the burial poles, a plaque was unveiled by Justice Bennett in NeuRA's Indigenous Garden, acknowledging Professor Broe's work addressing the disproportionate burden First Nations people bear in terms of ageing and dementia. That included his long service at NeuRA but also on expert advisory committees for the NHMRC and consulting to Government about National Action Plans and legislation. @nervecentrals

Donadio et al. show that the detection of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in skin nerves is a highly reliable biomarker for the early identification of Parkinson’s disease. shorturl.at/iRKBE

Over the past year NeuRA has played a leading role in discussions around improving Australia's dementia awareness, prevention and treatment, including the Think Again campaign run by News Corp and aiming to spark a national conversation. With dementia now Australia's leading cause of death, we're pleased everyone will be able to read these stories and others featuring our researchers for free this weekend, thanks to The Australian's Open House promotion. Featuring the research of some of NeuRA's leading minds, NeuRA CEO Matthew Keirnan AM, Professor Carolyn Sue AM, Dr Claire Shepherd and Professor Kaarin Anstey. Brain banks under strain due to scarce funding, competitive grants - tinyurl.com/Brain-banks-un… New blood test could detect dementia decades before symptoms appear - tinyurl.com/New-blood-test… Dementia threatens to swamp health systems and devastate families, but almost half of cases are preventable - tinyurl.com/Dementia-threa… Inside the ‘groundbreaking’ trial to try to stop or reverse Parkinson’s disease - tinyurl.com/Inside-the-gro… Dementia trial aims to prove memory decline can be slowed - tinyurl.com/Dementia-trial… @nervecentrals @kaarin_anstey

Head-to-head comparison of brain-derived pTau217 and total pTau217 for brain amyloid and tau pathology classification pnas.org/doi/abs/10.107…

My teacher Gerald Stern told me. ‘There are two types of Professors of Neurology, Andrew, those with slides, the majority and those with ideas

Distinct prescription patterns emerge years before ALS diagnosis, consistent with a prodromal phase of the disease onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/an…

Rajicic et al. performed bulk RNA seq on temporal cortex from patients with FTLD-TDP C. After excluding tauopathy-related genes and adjusting for neuronal loss, they found a specific downregulation of postsynaptic pathways. shorturl.at/JnRj4

Chronic, delayed, and shifting patterns of PTSD, CPTSD, and PGD were linked to higher levels of somatization and pain, highlighting the need for integrated trauma-informed care addressing physical and psychological health. ja.ma/4cY8fZt

Taking psilocybin – the psychedelic component of magic mushrooms – eased symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder among people who did not respond to conventional treatments, and the effects lasted at least several months #Echobox=1772937035" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">newscientist.com/article/251810…

Last week, we had the pleasure of bringing together leading experts from both the FTD and ALS fields for a workshop to kick off the development of new educational slide decks. The workshop focused on synthesising knowledge within and across these closely connected areas to draft high-quality educational materials, with launch planned for early autumn. As always, these resources will be free and accessible to everyone. Make sure to stay updated about the launch by signing up for our monthly newsletter: neurotorium.org/contact/ A sincere thank you to Prof. Eva Feldman (@EvaFeldmanMDPhD), Prof. James Rowe, Prof. Jon Rohrer (@jonrohrer), Assoc. Prof. Matthew Harms, Prof. Matthew Kiernan (@nervecentrals), Prof. Nortina Shahrizaila, Prof. Dame Pamela Shaw, and Prof. Steve Vucic (@SteveVucic) for your outstanding contributions and engagement.

March's NeuRA All-Staff Meeting shone a light on some of the many women throughout NeuRA who are making an incredible difference across their fields. Our Chief Research Officer, Tegan Cox, described the journey that has led her to NeuRA - and the things that have caught her eye in the first few weeks. Ahead of International Women's Day, Senior Research Scientist, Dr Tertia Purves, Senior Principal Research Scientist, Professor Kaarin Anstey and Neura Quest Scholar, Associate Professor Julia Lappin, joined Senior Media Advisor Katana Smith to speak on female-specific factors in brain research. Professor Michelle Farrar, another NeuRA Quest Scholar, presented her forthcoming research into Neurotherapeutics as part of the Randwick Health Innovation Precinct. Meanwhile NeuRA CEO Matthew Kiernan spoke on updates across the medical research sector. @TertiaTyson @kaarin_anstey @imichellefarrar @KatanaSmith @nervecentrals

This study found that the 2024 McDonald criteria allow for earlier and more frequent multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in patients under evaluation for suspected MS: hubs.la/Q044vqk20 #MS @ahmedtoosy

Computer models are showing the potential to draw upon a person’s clinical records and current health data to forecast diseases and treatment outcomes. Could this presage a new era of preventive medicine? nature.com/articles/s4158… [🔓read free with login]

Older people with exceptional memory have a surprisingly high number of young neurons go.nature.com/3MQj7hm

This study provides valuable insights into the management of iatrogenic progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients with #MultipleSclerosis: hubs.la/Q044Lpk90 #NeuroTwitter