Department of Brain Sciences

More than one glass of wine a year is harmful, says former drugs tsar Professor David Nutt, who has often spoken about the harm done by alcohol, said if it was invented today it would not pass safety checks

🍷Is a glass of wine after work harmless?

Not according to Prof David Nutt @profdavidnutt.bsky.socia‬l who says the safe limit is one large glass of wine per year.

"If alcohol were invented today, it would fail safety checks".👇

Great Exhibition Road Festival: What is the weirdest thing in the universe? Three scientists will be arguing the point as part of the annual Great Exhibition Road Festival.

At this weekend’s Great Exhibition Road Festival, Honorary Research Fellow Dr Fernando Ernesto Rosas De Andraca spoke to the BBC about one of science’s greatest mysteries — human consciousness 🧠✨

What makes us aware? And could AI ever be conscious?

Read more👇
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Study reveals cellular energy crisis in Parkinson's disease | Imperial News | Imperial College London The molecular interaction could reveal why some brain cells are more vulnerable than others in Parkinson’s disease.

Why are some brain cells more vulnerable to damage than others in Parkinson's Disease?

A study has highlighted a specific mitochondrial mechanism could be a key reason for their vulnerability, and why other cells remain unaffected.👇

Good Morning Scotland - 22/05/2025 - BBC Sounds The latest news from home and abroad, along with sport, travel and weather updates.

Dr @tobyellmers.bsky.social from @imperialbrains.bsky.social spoke to BBC Radio Scotland on research which finds there is a strong association between an older person’s view of how they are #ageing and how well they recover after a fall.

🎧 Listen from 54mins
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Brain Sciences celebrates sustainability awards | Imperial News | Imperial College London The Department of Brains Sciences celebrates obtaining both a Gold and Silver LEAF award

Congratulations to @imperialbrains.bsky.social who have earned both a Gold and Silver LEAF Award for lab #sustainability 🌿👏

From glove recycling to freezer cataloguing, our departments are leading the way to a greener research future.

#SustainableScience ⤵️ www.imperial.ac.uk/news/264433/...

Constance Burgod, PhD student

Tuesday's graduation was full of proud moments and wise words 💬👏

Constance Burgod from @imperialbrains.bsky.social, shared:

"My PhD at @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social taught me that beyond commitment and dedication, working with purpose and passion makes the challenges worthwhile."

Care Minister visits UK Dementia Research Institute at White City | Imperial News | Imperial College London Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock MP sees pioneering research and technology supporting people living with dementia.

🧠 During #DementiaActionWeek, Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock MP and @rupahuq.bsky.social visited Imperial to see cutting-edge #DementiaResearch in action.

They explored work by @ukdri.ac.uk to support people living with dementia and transform care.👇
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/264313/...

How does APOE change your risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? At least partially by changing the function of immune cells in your brain 🧠🧬

New paper out in @natcomms.nature.com today: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

@ukdri.ac.uk @kingsioppn.bsky.social @imperialbrains.bsky.social

Positive mindset about ageing in over-60s linked to better recovery after a fall | Imperial News | Imperial College London There is a strong association between an older person’s view of how they are ageing and how well they will physically recover after a fall.

Our researchers and Coventry University found that older people who fell tended to recover better if they had a positive outlook on ageing.🩼

Falls are a major health concern so the work will help scientists analyse why some people recover better than others.
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/264333/...

@imperialbrains.bsky.social

The toxic debate about obesity rages on. But at least we know if Mounjaro or Wegovy is better for weight loss | Zoe Williams I was recently asked to explain the media’s attitude to weight loss drugs. And the more I tried, the more sheepish I became, says Zoe Williams

“What is the best and fastest way to help as many people as possible?"

Dr Tony Goldstone (@tonygoldstone.bsky.social) spoke to @theguardian.com on why #semaglutide is an effective approach to treating patients with obesity.👇
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Congratulations to the ECR Committee at @imperialbrains.bsky.social for organising a fantastic day of learning and community with a stunning Keynote by @rimonaweil.bsky.social #neurology #neuroscience #psychiatry

Description Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...

We’re looking for an inspirational leader to Head our @imperialbrains.bsky.social 🧠

The successful applicant will lead and grow an internationally renowned portfolio of translational research in #neuroscience and #MentalHealth.

Apply by 20 May: www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...

Imperial researchers to develop new technologies for people with dementia | Imperial News | Imperial College London Researchers at Imperial are to develop technologies to enable people living with dementia to live independently for longer.

A new 'ZedTech' Dementia network will develop sustainable technologies to support independent living with #dementia.

The network is led by our Prof David Sharp and funded by @ukri.org and @nihr.bsky.social.👇
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/262314/...

Description Please note that job descriptions are not exhaustive, and you may be asked to take on additional duties that align with the key responsibilities ment...

🚨 We're hiring!

Imperial’s Centre for Psychedelic Research is looking for a Lecturer in Psychopharmacology & Psychiatry to lead groundbreaking research in addiction & psychedelic science 🧠✨

Expertise in brain imaging is required.

Apply by 18 March👇
www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...

Psychiatric drug research held back by ‘stigma’, says top UK scientist Mental health treatments face higher regulatory hurdles for approval, warns Imperial College professor

Stigma & ignorance are holding back new psychiatric treatments, says Prof David Nutt from @imperialbrains.bsky.social.

Decades on, patients still rely on the same meds from the 1970s.

Read more in the @financialtimes.com feature: ft.com/content/ad33...
#MentalHealth #Neuroscience #Psychiatry

COVID-19 linked to increase in biomarkers for abnormal brain proteins | Imperial News | Imperial College London Researchers have uncovered a link between COVID-19 and blood markers linked to faulty proteins in the brain.

Researchers have uncovered a link between COVID-19 and changes that can contribute to neurodegenerative disease.

The greatest effects were seen in those hospitalised with COVID or with underlying risk factors ⬇️

@imperialbrains.bsky.social | @ukdri.ac.uk

www.imperial.ac.uk/news/260553/...

Image of Nir Grossman

Congratulations to our Dr Nir Grossman for receiving £4.1m of
ARIA research funding!

The award is to will help develop technology capable of precisely stimulating deep brain regions implicated in neurodegenerative diseases.

👉 imperial.ac.uk/news/260073/...

"We need more strategies for informing people about these phenomena."

Dr David Erritzoe (@DavidErritzoe) comments in the @guardian about the mental health risks after a rise in recreational magic mushroom use. 🍄
https://buff.ly/4gSmMVL

The medical breakthroughs to watch out for in 2025 New Alzheimer's disease drugs, a world-first skin cancer vaccine, and personalised health apps that change the way we track our diets are just some of the medical breakthroughs on the horizon

What possible breakthroughs in brain science could there be in 2025? 💭

Prof Paresh Malhotra (@pareshmalhotra.bsky.social) discusses in @inews.co.uk what could be on the horizon in dementia research.👇

What is health denial and how does it affect your habits such as drinking?

Prof David Nutt (@profdavidnutt.bsky.social) comments in the @telegraphnews.bsky.social on the psychology of drinking alcohol.👇

https://buff.ly/3Wfzshl

A person in purple gloves holding a human brain.

Researchers have mapped how genes work over 2.3 million brain cells from 400 human brain tissue donors.

The work could help us better understand how genes influence neurological health and diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

👉 imperial.ac.uk/news/259876/...

How seeing his own brain inspired doctor to find a method to rapidly detect delirium Life-saving surgery in Greg Scott’s youth instilled determination to find more effective EEG diagnosis

"I was 19 and the experience transformed the trajectory of my career."

Dr Greg Scott was inspired by his diagnosis of a brain tumour to pursue a career in medicine and neurology.

Read his story in the @theguardian.com.👇
www.theguardian.com/science/2024...

Professor William Wisden appointed Centre Director of the UK DRI at Imperial | Imperial News | Imperial College London An Imperial expert focused on how brain cells communicate and regulate sleep will head up the leading dementia research hub.

Congratulations to Professor William Wisden @imperiallifesci.bsky.social who has been appointed the Centre Director of the UKDRI at Imperial.🎉

Prof Wisden's research focuses on how brain cells communication and regulate sleep.👇
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/259455/...

Thank you @arts_at_imperial @ImperialCharity for putting my photographs on display at Hammersmith Hospital for staff art exhibition.
Come see them on the south corridor - they will move to St Mary’s Hospital in April 2025.
@imperialmed.bsky.social @imperialbrains.bsky.social @ImperialNHS

Inter-university programme will examine the role of circadian rhythms in ageing | Imperial News | Imperial College London The CircadiAgeing Research programme has been awarded £4.4million by the BBSRC.

A new inter-university programme will investigate the role of circadian rhythms in ageing.

Funded by the BBSRC, CircadiAgeing will take a holistic approach to understand how the circadian clocks work.👇
www.imperial.ac.uk/news/259293/...

New cell component of muscle movement discovered | Imperial News | Imperial College London Specialist macrophages play a key role in the control of muscle and movement

Scientists have discovered that specialist macrophages, a type of white blood cell, plays a key role in the control of muscles. 💪

The discovery overturns previous assumptions that muscle contraction is controlled by the nervous system.👇

AI twice as accurate at pinpointing stroke time than current methods – study Developers hope the model will eventually be used in the health service.

Read more in The Standard ⤵️
www.standard.co.uk/news/science...

Our Dr Paul Bentley, Senior Clinical Research Fellow said:

"Having this information at their fingertips will help doctors to make emergency decisions about what treatments should be undertaken in stroke patients."

The software created by @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social, the Technical University of Munich and University of Edinburgh, was found to be twice as accurate at assessing stroke patients than the current method - a visual assessment of a scan by a medical professional.