Heart Surgery Won't Cause Brain Decline, New Study Says

TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 2018 -- Major heart surgery does not cause significant memory decline in older patients, a new study finds.

Researchers found no greater risk for loss of brain function among patients who had heart surgery compared to those who had a much less invasive procedure called cardiac catheterization.

Wider Waistlines, Smaller Brains?

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 9, 2019 -- Obese people tend to show shrinkage in their brain tissue by middle age -- especially if the extra pounds are concentrated in the belly, a new study suggests.

The study, of more than 9,600 U.K. adults, found that those who were obese typically had a lower volume of gray matter in the brain than their normal-weight counterparts. Gray matter contains most of the brain's nerve cells -- whereas white matter contains the fibers that connect different parts of the brain.

Middle School Football Players Show Changes in Key Brain Area

THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 -- There's more evidence that football may be changing the brains of adolescent players, and not in a good way.

In a new study, researchers looked at MRI scans of 26 football-playing boys averaging 12 years of age.

Prolonged Brain Connections Seen in Adults With Autism

THURSDAY, Nov. 29, 2018 -- Connections between different areas of the brain are sustained longer than usual in people with autism, perhaps explaining some of their symptoms, a new study suggests.

It's possible these prolonged connections make it difficult for the brain to switch from one activity to another, the researchers said.