January 13, 2026
The human brain houses some 80 billion neurons and a trillion supporting cells, weaving together nanoscale synapses and global circuits that orchestrate thought, memory and adaptability. Yet what sustains this vast network is not only its wiring but also its metabolism: every act of remembering, attending or deciding is powered by an intricate balance of energy. Unlocking how neuronal computations flex under shifting metabolic conditions could illuminate the hidden bioenergetic demands of cognition, bridging the microscopic mechanisms of circuits with the higher-order intelligence they enable.
$7.5 million grant to probe innermost circuits of the brain, the building blocks of cognition
September 29, 2025
It was long thought that fat in the brain played no role in neurodegenerative diseases, but Purdue University researchers are challenging that assumption.
Purdue-led study shows how fat disables the brain’s immune shield in Alzheimer’s disease
July 29, 2025
Scientists have long known that fiber feeds beneficial bacteria in the human gut. Now, researches in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture have discovered that combining specific fibers can have a synergistic effect, producing a greater-than-expected number of anti-inflammatory substances. This work has the potential to transform how prebiotics are used to promote health.
July 18, 2025
Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine researchers are taking an innovative approach to studying Alzheimer’s disease. Dr. Ranjie Xu, an assistant professor in the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and a member of the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, has developed a sophisticated 3D human mini-brain model to reveal new insights into how the disease progresses and to validate promising new treatments.
Purdue Researchers Develop a Novel Human Brain Model to Study Alzheimer’s Disease
June 17, 2025
With limited therapies available to slow disease progression and an aging U.S. population, the number of Parkinson’s disease cases in the United States is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030, according to the Parkinson’s Foundation. While many researchers focus on the disease after it has progressed, Jason Cannon, professor and acting head of the Purdue University School of Health Sciences, and Fatema Currim, a postdoctoral researcher in the Cannon Lab of Experimental and Translational Neurotoxicology, are looking into the first environmental and dietary exposures that influence Parkinson’s disease development.
March 10, 2025
Despite decades of research, understanding the precise biological mechanisms behind the disease has remained a challenge. Now, an interdisciplinary team of researchers at Purdue University, led by Professor of Biological Sciences, Peristera Paschou, has made significant strides in uncovering genetic and biological factors that contribute to Alzheimer’s—particularly in women. Their work, published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications, provides new insights that could pave the way for more personalized treatment approaches.
Tackling Alzheimer’s: Purdue scientists map genetic risks for women
January 16, 2025
Spilled coffee on your khakis, check engine light blaring bright, laptop possessed by a digital demon again. But then your phone buzzes. It’s a picture sent by your spouse of your beloved family dog doing something quite precocious. Your mood is instantly elevated. Dan Foti, professor in the Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences, has researched the brain’s reaction to such positive visual stimuli. The mood elevation from seeing your beloved pet may seem immediate, but it takes precious milliseconds for the information to be processed, no matter how cute the photo is.
November 15, 2024
Despite more than six decades of research in the field of neuroscience, many functions of the brain — the most complex organ in the human body — remain a mystery. Recent research conducted in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Bindley Bioscience Center revealed that scientists are one step closer to understanding the process that activates and deactivates specific proteins within our cells. This breakthrough could one day lead to enhanced treatments that may slow down or perhaps reverse the advance of neurogenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis.
October 2, 2024
With age, some cells in the brain enter a state of senescence: rather than dying or regenerating by dividing, they just linger, alive, but functioning less effectively than normal cells. Senescence in the brain has been linked to cognitive decline, and senescent cells are targets for antiaging therapies, but researchers know little about how such cells appear and function in living organisms. Now, in a finding which may help to address aging-related disease, an interdisciplinary team — which at Purdue University was led by researcher Gaurav Chopra — discovered that diminishing energy production in aging neurons triggers senescence in nearby glial cells, which ordinarily support and protect neurons.
August 20, 2024
Shreyas Sen, an Elmore Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University, is taking lessons from the human body’s nervous system to design chips that might get AI to work offline for a network of wearable devices without needing to frequently charge them.
Inspired by the human body, engineer designs chips that could make wearable AI more energy efficient
