Emory Brain Health Center

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.

12/30/2025

A new study has achieved a long-standing goal in neuroscience: showing how the brain’s smallest components build the systems that shape thought, emotion, and behavior.

12/29/2025

Led by clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Negar Fani, Emory University researchers are studying how everyday experiences with racism may have immediate and long-term effects on the brain and body - a connection participants say they can now see in real time.

Emory University researchers are studying how everyday experiences with racism may have immediate and long-term effects on the brain and body.

12/24/2025

"I am really encouraged by these new statistics and the reversing trends that we are seeing. We have been continuing to see opioid overdose deaths decline in Georgia since 2023." said Dr. Justine Welsh, Director of Emory Healthcare Addiction Services.

Read the full article ➡️ https://www.macon.com/news/article313386828.html

12/22/2025

Emory Healthcare Veterans Program Executive Director, Dr. Barbara Rothbaum joined the Going In Blind podcast to talk about PTSD treatment, the program's innovative research and the hope behind evidence-based care. Watch ⬇️

Dr. Barbara Rothbaum(Ph.D) has spent the past four decades researching anxiety disorders, and specifically Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD). Her career i...

12/19/2025

Emory is currently conducting a one-time online research study to better understand caregiver eating behavior, family meals and food-related routines in households with children. Learn more about the study and sign up here ➡️ https://redcap.emory.edu/surveys/?s=4H4AM9LY4TA7WJHE