UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences

Today, UCL turns 200. 🎉 For two centuries, our community has opened doors, challenged convention and pushed the boundaries of knowledge across every discipline. Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the UCL story, here’s to the next century. ✨

#UCL200 #LoveUCL

As we look ahead, we are reminded that our greatest strength lies in our people, researchers, clinicians, and students from around the world, united by our ambition to improve lives. Together, our extraordinary community will continue to push boundaries, transform care, and drive discoveries for many years to come.

Today, UCL marks 200 years since its foundation.
This year, we'll celebrate two centuries of learning and innovation and share those achievements with our community.

Discover our Faculty's exciting #UCL200 programme of events and learn how you can get involved: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

Obesity linked to one in 10 infection deaths globally Just over one in 10 deaths from a wide range of infectious diseases are associated with obesity worldwide, finds a major new study led by a UCL researcher.

Just over one in 10 deaths from a wide range of infectious diseases are associated with obesity worldwide, finds a major new study led by Prof Mika Kivimaki @uclbrainscience.bsky.social, published in @thelancet.com

Young people’s social worlds are ‘thinning’ – here’s how that’s affecting wellbeing The environments in which young people can explore, fail safely, and develop social mastery has been radically narrowed.

Young people have fewer real‑world social spaces than ever; and it’s affecting wellbeing.
Read Professor Eamon McCrory and Ritika Chokhani on “social thinning” in The Conversation.
#ChildrensMentalHealthWeek
theconversation.com/young-people...

Dr James Ruffle on AI’s ability to transform brain cancer care Dr James Ruffle and the wider team at the High-Dimensional Neurology group in the Queen Square Institute of Neurology are transforming brain cancer care with AI-based tools.

On #WorldCancerDay, we’re celebrating research that brings real hope. Dr James Ruffle’s work at @uclqsion.bsky.social shows how AI could revolutionise brain cancer care.
🔗

Embodying the Social: ‘The Challenge of Urban Violence and Inequalities in the Era of the Exposome’ In this episode, Jade Hunter explores the Grand Challenge-funded project

🎧 New Disruptive Voices ep: Women’s mental health in cities
What does urban living mean for young women’s mental health? Jade Hunter speaks with researchers behind a UCL GC project on violence, inequality & place — from Islington to Porto & São Paulo.
🔗 https://bit.ly/4qMAXAC

Targeting the gut's immune system could tackle early stages of Parkinson's New research reveals how Parkinson’s spreads from the gut to the brain, with the help of immune cells – offering a new potential therapeutic strategy – in a study in mice led by scientists at the UK D...

New research has revealed how Parkinson’s spreads from the gut to the brain, with the help of immune cells – offering a new potential therapeutic strategy – in a study in mice co-led by Dr @soyonhonglab.bsky.social & Dr Tim Bartels @ukdri.ac.uk @uclqsion.bsky.social @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

Graphic announcing a UCL Centre for Behaviour Change job vacancy for Lecturer and Deputy Research Lead, with application deadline of 25 February.

📢 We're recruiting for a 'Lecturer and Deputy Research Lead' to join our management team.
We’re seeking an experienced researcher with expertise in behavioural science and research methods and a proven track record in leading projects.
👉 Find out more & apply by 25 Feb: www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...

Text reads: UCL ranked #3 in Europe. QS World University Rankings Europe 2026.

UCL has risen two places to be named third best university in Europe according to the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2026. 🥉 This achievement reflects our extensive European partnerships across research, education, and innovation.

Read more: https://bit.ly/3LHcuxz

I’ve treated 20-year-olds with dementia. These are the early warning signs Under-65s can wait twice as long for a diagnosis, with symptoms often mistaken for stress or burnout

"We believe it will bring huge benefits to a profoundly underserved community": Prof Nick Fox @uclqsion.bsky.social discusses plans to open a new rare dementia support centre this year, in an article explaining the symptoms of rare dementias and why people affected often feel isolated

Childhood ADHD linked to midlife physical health problems People who have ADHD traits at age 10 are more likely than those without such traits to have physical health problems and to report physical health-related disability at age 46, according to a study l...

People who have ADHD traits at age 10 are more likely than those without such traits to have physical health problems and to report physical health-related disability at age 46, according to a new study co-led by Prof Joshua Stott @uclpals.bsky.social @uclbrainscience.bsky.social with Dr Amber John

Over 1 million estimated to have glaucoma in UK Over one million people are estimated to currently have glaucoma in the UK, a figure projected to reach more than 1.6 million by 2060, according to a study led by UCL and Moorfields researchers.

Over 1 million people are estimated to currently have glaucoma in the UK, a figure projected to reach more than 1.6 million by 2060, largely due to the ageing population, according to a study led by Prof Paul Foster @ucleye.bsky.social @moorfieldsbrc.bsky.social

Shay Kaur Grewal - 13/01/2026 - BBC Sounds Celebrating Londoners and a recap of the day's news.

A third of 16-29 year-olds in the UK feel lonely, according to the ONS.
PhD student Sharon Eager (@uclpsychiatry.bsky.social) joins @bbclondon.bsky.social to discuss the figures and her own research into loneliness.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... (from 19 mins)

Scientists test whether finger prick blood test could help diagnose Alzheimer’s A major international research project involving UCL is underway to test whether a finger prick-style blood test could be used to help diagnose Alzheimer’s disease, even before symptoms begin.

A major international research project involving @uclqsion.bsky.social scientists is underway to test whether a finger prick-style blood test could be used to help diagnose Alzheimer's disease, even before symptoms begin @ukdri.ac.uk @lifearc.bsky.social @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

UCL researchers uncover distinct brain changes in Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia UCL researchers have used advanced brain imaging to uncover the distinct brain changes between people with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, opening the door to more targeted treatments

Really excited to share first published paper of the year! Thank you to @uclbrainscience.bsky.social for highlighting: www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc.... We found different organisational changes in Lewy body disease patients with dementia versus those with intact cognition, using structural gradients.

Kids And Teen Accounts On YouTube Are About To Drastically Change The update comes as the UK government faces growing calls to follow in Australia’s footsteps and ban social media for under-16s.

🗣️ “In the digital age, the content teens encounter online can have both positive and negative impacts,” said Professor Peter Fonagy (@uclpals.bsky.social ) stressing the need to support children with their online use to protect their mental health.

World-first project shows great promise to treat low eye pressure A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of a widely-used eye injection to manage the previously untreatable rare condition, hypotony, in a project by clinical researchers at UCL and Moorfields Eye ...

A new study demonstrates the effectiveness of a widely-used eye injection to manage the previously untreatable rare condition, hypotony, in a project by clinical researchers at @ucleye.bsky.social and Moorfields Eye Hospital.
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/ja...

Two types of underconfidence linked to anxiety and gender Women and people with anxiety are both prone to low confidence in their own abilities, but a new study by UCL researchers has found that the two groups are prone to two distinct types of underconfiden...

Women and people with anxiety are both prone to low confidence in their own abilities, but a new study by Dr @sucharit.bsky.social and Prof @smfleming.bsky.social @uclpals.bsky.social @uclbrainscience.bsky.social has found that the two groups are prone to two distinct types of underconfidence

Two new subtypes of MS found in ‘exciting’ breakthrough Exclusive: Scientists uncovered biological strands using artificial intelligence and hope discovery will revolutionise treatment

#ICYMI @uclqsion.bsky.social researchers have discovered two new subtypes of multiple sclerosis with the aid of artificial intelligence, paving the way for personalised treatments and better outcomes for patients.

Most Alzheimer’s cases linked to variants in a single gene Potentially more than 90% of Alzheimer’s disease cases would not occur without the contribution of a single gene (APOE), according to a new analysis led by UCL researchers.

Researchers at @ucl.ac.uk and University of Eastern Finland have identified that most #Alzheimer’s cases are linked to variants in a single gene (APOE).

Funding was provided by @alzheimersresearchuk.org @ukri.org and others.

#EndAlz #Alzheimers #Dementia

What's Up Docs? - Is joy always good for us? - BBC Sounds Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken explore joy and why it can be a complicated emotion.

😆 What actually is joy, and how is it different from happiness?
Professor Sophie Scott (UCL ICN) joins Drs Chris and Xand van Tulleken to untangle the science, psychology and meaning of joy.

Out now!!
www.nature.com/articles/s44...

Intro to this paper pictured below

Huge thanks to collaborators @neilmdavies.bsky.social, @emmylooroll.bsky.social at @uclbrainscience.bsky.social & Sami Heikkinen and Mikko Hiltunen at @uniuef.bsky.social ...

#endalz #episky #medsky

Do you want to build a career in children and young people's mental health?

Join us on 14 January to find out more about our three in-person UCL Master’s programmes taught and based at Anna Freud in London.

www.ucl.ac.uk/brain-scienc...

🎉 Congratulations to Emeritus Professor David Kemp (UCL Ear Institute), who has been made a CBE for services to auditory sciences and public health. Read more: www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/de...

Important review by great colleagues in @uclbrainscience.bsky.social

AI analysis reveals two distinct types of multiple sclerosis Artificial intelligence (AI), using a simple blood test combined with standard brain images has, for the first time, been able to identify two biologically distinct types of multiple sclerosis (MS),…

AI has, for the first time, identified two biologically distinct types of multiple sclerosis—using a simple blood test and standard brain scans. @uclqsion.bsky.social

Graphic promoting the Behaviour Change Conference 2026. The top section includes the conference title “Behaviour Change Conference 2026: Health & Sustainability” and dates “17–19 June” with “Pre-conference day on 16 June” in smaller text. Below, large bold text reads “Last chance to submit your work!” and an orange banner states “Extended deadline: 7 January.” On the right, there is a circular photo of a speaker presenting at a podium in a lecture hall with flags and a screen in the background. Logos for UCL Centre for Behaviour Change and NOVA Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública appear at the bottom.

📢 Final call!
Submit your abstract or workshop proposal for the 2026 Behaviour Change Conference by 7 Jan (23:59 GMT).
🔗 www.ucl.ac.uk/behaviour-ch...
Thanks to everyone who’s submitted so far! We look forward to building an inspiring and dynamic programme for #BCConf2026!
@susanmichie.bsky.social

Life after stroke: the hidden struggle for recovery Surviving a stroke is only the beginning. Many people face years of hidden disabilities, limited rehabilitation and financial strain without enough help.

PhD candidate Raafiah Mussa (@uclqsion.bsky.social) writes with Siobhan McLernon of South Bank University about the many challenges stroke survivors face and calls for increased ongoing NHS care and psychological support.

Specific depressive symptoms in midlife linked to increased dementia risk Six particular depressive symptoms when experienced in midlife predict dementia risk more than two decades later, finds a new study led by UCL researchers.

Six particular depressive symptoms when experienced in midlife predict dementia risk more than two decades later, finds a new study led by @uclpsychiatry.bsky.social researchers.

Parts of the brain that are needed to remember words identified by UCL team of neurologists and neurosurgeons

We're looking back on just some of the incredible scientific breakthroughs that came out of our Faculty in 2025!
💬 The parts of the brain that are needed to remember words have been identified by a team of neurologists and neurosurgeons at @uclqsion.bsky.social.
www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2025/ma...