News / Events

What if Alzheimer’s disease left its mark on the embryo? The ‘Brain Development’ team at Paris Brain Institute showed that the amyloid precursor protein (APP) has a specific role during neurodevelopment. It delays neurogenesis, the differentiation of stem cells into different nerve cells. Subtle disruptions in this mechanism might predispose some individuals to vulnerabilities that emerge only in adulthood. Alzheimer’s disease could thus be considered a neurodevelopmental disorder with a delayed onset. Learn more. 

Researchers at Paris Brain Institute have successfully tested a new therapeutic approach to treat essential tremor, one of the main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, using ultrasound neuromodulation to target specific brain areas. This less invasive technique offers an alternative to deep brain stimulation, effectively reducing upper limb tremors and associated disability, improving patients’ quality of life. Learn more

Using machine learning algorithms and big data, researchers have developed a personalized remote diagnosis system and monitoring tool for epilepsy patients, integrated into smart clothing. This innovation led to the creation of the Bioserenity start-up, first incubated at Paris Brain Institute and has since grown into a multinational company with over 600 employees and branches across France and the USA. Learn more 

In a recent study, researchers at Paris Brain Institute explored the role of senescent cells – cells that have stopped dividing – in glioblastoma progression. They showed that using molecules to target and kill these cells alters the tumor environment and slows its progression. Modulating cellular senescence could therefore open new therapeutic avenues for glioblastoma, enhancing the effectiveness of conventional treatments. Full article 

Researchers at the Paris Brain Institute are leveraging artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning, to develop predictive models that could surpass traditional biomarkers. Recent work has focused on evaluating the performance and interpretability of a machine-learning model based on MRI results acquired on day 1 following a stroke. These findings could pave the way for new patient categorization strategies in neuroprotective and rehabilitative therapies, optimizing recovery outcomes. Learn more. 

Walking is a complex mechanism involving both automatic processes and conscious control. Recent work by the ‘Sensory Spinal Signaling’ team at Paris Brain Institute has shown that walking is controlled by a region known as the ‘mesencephalic locomotor region’, which controls the vigor and speed of movement and transmits signals  to the spinal cord via control neurons in the brainstem. This new mapping, conducted in zebrafish, could contribute to our understanding of the movement control circuits,  particularly those impaired in Parkinson’s disease. Learn more

Sleep has traditionally been seen as a state of disconnection from external stimuli. However, recent research from Paris Brain Institute and the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital challenges this idea. Researchers observed that participants responded to certain words while asleep, displaying facial expressions like frowning or smiling across different sleep stages. Interestingly, responses were more common during deep sleep, when our brains are more active. These findings suggest that our brains may remain more aware during sleep than previously believed, opening new avenues for understanding sleep disorders and learning processes. Learn more

Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory disease in which the immune system attacks myelin, the protective sheath around axons. The disease can lead to motor, sensory, or cognitive disability. Using novel imaging techniques, researchers at Paris Brain Institute have shown that, in patients with early-stage multiple sclerosis, spontaneous myelin repair in the cortex can reduce the risk of worsening symptoms. This highlights the critical role of myelin dynamics in disease progression and suggests that early-stage myelin repair could prevent long-term irreversible disability. Learn more.