Emory Brain Health Center

02/11/2026

A new study from Emory University has taken a closer look at how inflammation may affect motivation in people with depression. The researchers tested whether an anti-inflammatory drug could improve motivation by calming inflammation and changing how certain brain circuits work.

Reducing inflammation may boost motivation in depression

02/04/2026

An Emory study led by professor of psychiatry Dr. James Rilling suggests grandmothers relate to their grandchildren differently than they do to their own offspring.

(Sorry, parents: That suspicion you’ve long held that your mom feels closer to your kids? It might be true after all!)

Researchers are learning why the emotional bond grandmothers have with their grandchildren is different than the one they have with their own kids.

01/29/2026

Congratulations to Emory nurse practitioners Elsa Mekonnen and Tong Wang for being named to the first cohort of the Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in Movement Disorders!

The fellowship prepares nurse practitioners for advanced clinical practice in Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders at Emory Healthcare’s Movement Disorders Clinic.

 Emory announces the first cohort of its Nurse Practitioner Fellowship in Parkinson’s disease care, providing specialized, interdisciplinary care to expand patient access.

01/22/2026

A new study from Emory University suggests a drug used to treat inflammation in arthritis might help people with depression feel more motivated.

Emory professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and co-author of the study Dr. Andrew Miller said targeting inflammation could be a better way to treat depression for some people, especially when lack of motivation is the biggest issue.

Can an arthritis drug help find depression?

01/20/2026

Congratulations to associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences Dr. Martha Ward for being named assistant dean for admissions and student affairs at the Emory University School of Medicine!

In this new leadership role, Dr. Ward will partner with the associate dean for admissions and student affairs and the associate dean for student success to ensure consistent, student-centered decision-making and support.

01/16/2026

New research from Emory University School of Medicine provides the first direct evidence in humans that the ovarian hormone estradiol plays a key role in shaping how the brain responds to perceived threats after trauma.

An Emory study finds the ovarian hormone estradiol influences women’s brain responses to threat, but traumatic stress can disrupt this regulation, which helps explain women’s increased risk for PTSD.

01/15/2026

When an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke occurs, brain tissue dies rapidly, said Emory neurologist Dr. Fadi B. Nahab.

“In one study there was loss of 1.9 million brain neurons per minute in an acute stroke,” he said. “Treatments are most effective for reducing disability and death when initiated early to reduce the amount of brain tissue lost.”

Primary care physicians are often the first to notice transient ischemic attack stroke symptoms or risks. The right questions can help determine next steps.

01/12/2026

Molecular genetic studies, which look at the genetic information shared between siblings and other blood relatives, have found similar rates of genetic influence on autism, said Emory professor of psychiatry Dr. John Constantino. Together, he said, “those studies have indicated that a vast share of the causation of autism can be traced to the effects of genetic influences. That is a fact.”

After more than 50 years of research, scientists still don't know exactly what causes autism. But the data make clear that genetics are an essential piece of the puzzle.

01/09/2026

Treatment with incretin-based weight-loss medications, like GLP-1 receptor agonists, after bariatric surgery was associated with significantly lower risks of alcohol use disorder.

In an accompanying editorial, Emory psychiatrist Dr. Robert O. Cotes and colleagues noted the study "opens an important conversation" but cautioned against drawing causal conclusions from observational data.

Findings add to evidence that GLP-1s may influence reward, addiction pathways beyond weigh

01/06/2026

Research on conditions like autism, schizophrenia and even brain cancer increasingly relies on clusters of human cells called brain organoids. These pea-size bits of neural tissue model aspects of human brain development as they grow for months and even years in a lab.

Pea-size clusters of human cells called brain organoids inspire both hope and fear. Experts are debating how scientists can responsibly use these bits of gray matter.

01/02/2026

Molecular genetic studies, which look at the genetic information shared between siblings and other blood relatives, have found similar rates of genetic influence on autism, says Emory professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences Dr. John Constantino.

Earlier this year, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged that the search for autism's cause—a question that has kept researchers busy for the better part of six decades—would be over in just five months.