The Brain Podcast

Welcome to the 35th episode of The Brain Podcast - the official podcast of the journals Brain and Brain Communications. 
This episode features a discussion with first author Dr Laetitia Marcadet and senior author Chantelle F Sephton of the Brain article entitled: Targeting lipid droplets in FUS-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mitigates neuronal and astrocytic lipotoxicity.
We discuss the interest concept of abnormal cellular energy metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and, more broadly, across other neurodegenerative and neurological conditions. The authors outline their combined model of neuronal and, more uniquely, astrocytic compartments to identify response to lipid droplet targeting.
Check out the full article on the Brain website as part of the Feb 2026 issue: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaf404
This episode was co-hosted, edited and produced by Roberto Bellanti and Andreas Thermisticleous, co-produced by Xin You Tai and Antonia Johnston, original music by Ammar Al-Chalabi.

Welcome to the 34th episode of The Brain Podcast - the official podcast of the journals Brain and Brain Communications. 
This episode features a discussion with first author Dr Lorenzo Pini of the Brain article entitled: Brain connectivity as a new target for Alzheimer's disease therapy?
We discuss a fascinating review into the literature examing brain connectivity in Alzheimer's disease as a biomarker for symptom progression, diagnosis and monitoring response to treatment. Further, they discuss whether brain stimulation to target connectivity may have therapeutic opportunities. The article also features a discussion around digital twins to facilitate Alzheimer's research - well worth a read!
Check out the full article on the Brain website as part of the Feb 2026 issue: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaf404
This episode was co-hosted, edited and produced by Michael and Adam Handel, co-produced by Xin You Tai and Antonia Johnston, original music by Ammar Al-Chalabi.

Welcome to the 33rd episode of The Brain Podcast - the official podcast of the journals Brain and Brain Communications. 
This episode features a discussion with first author Dr Courtney R Benoit and senior author Associate Professor Tracy L Young-Pearse of the Brain article entitled: POU3F2 regulates canonical Wnt signalling via SOX13 and ADNP to expand the neural progenitor population
We discuss a complex but important topic examining underlying mechanisms of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, specifically the regulation of canonical Wnt signalling pathway. The authors describe how two autism-related genes, ADNP and POU3F2, are linked through loss-of-function mutations in the transcription factor POU3F2 and how this may contribute to abnormal neurodevelopment.
Check out the full article on the Brain website as part of the December 2025 issue: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaf221
This episode was co-hosted, edited and produced by Chaitra Sathyaprakash and Andreas Thermistocleous, edited and produced by Chaitra and Xin You Tai, co-produced by Antonia Johnston, original music by Ammar Al-Chalabi.

Welcome to the 32th episode of The Brain Podcast - the official podcast of the journals Brain and Brain Communications. 
This episode features a discussion with first author Dr Philipp J Koch of the Brain article entitled: Neurotransmitter-informed connectivity maps and their application for outcome inference after stroke
We discuss a fascinating method to map neurotransmitter-informed brain network maps. From here, the authors examine two separate stroke cohorts and examine the degree of lesion-related disruption of these neurotransmitter connectomes. Of note, disproportionately high damage to dopamine-transporter–weighted networks consistently predicted worse functional recovery. This may lead to exciting therapeutic avenues. 
Check out the full article on the Brain website as part of the November 2025 issue: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaf185
This episode was co-hosted, edited and produced by Michael and Adam Handel, co-produced by Xin You Tai and Antonia Johnston, original music by Ammar Al-Chalabi.

Welcome to the 31th episode of The Brain Podcast - the official podcast of the journals Brain and Brain Communications. 
This episode features a discussion with first author Dr Ifrah Zawar of the Brain article entitled: The association of seizure control with neuropathology in dementia
We discuss an impressive post-mortem investigation of the link between seizures and the associated neuropathology of dementia. Higher tau and beta-amyloid burden is associated with Alzheimer's disease and also other forms of dementia. Listen as Dr Zawah discusses how seizures may drive neurodegeneration and that this, in turn, may lead to worse seizures and cognitive difficulties. This is an under-recognised and important problem in the clinical management of dementia.
Check out the full article on the Brain website as part of the July 2025 issue: https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awaf017
This episode was co-hosted, edited and produced by Xin You Tai and Roberto Bellanti, co-produced by Xin You Tai and Antonia Johnston, original music by Ammar Al-Chalabi.