BioBus and Brainy hosted a “Technology & The Brain” event on Saturday, March 15. This family-friendly event featured brain exhibits, a virtual reality experience, demonstrations of how technology is used to study the brain, and games and crafts.
Kathleen Roina, the director of the Dana Education Program, notes on the organization’s website that in her 25 years with the Dana Foundation, she has witnessed a wide range of activities, from middle school brain fairs to poetry contests and even brain-inspired musicals and operas.
Since 1996, neuroscientists have celebrated Brain Awareness Week by educating the public about the brain and fostering enthusiasm and support for brain research.
A special issue of Science Magazine highlighted how the hypothalamus coordinates neuronal signals to maintain bodily stability and explored the role of this brain region in regulating physiological and behavioral homeostasis.
Neuro-Oncology recently published findings from an analysis of glioma brain tumors conducted by researchers from Duke University Neurosurgery.
The study highlights the importance of considering the cultural, socioeconomic, and genetic diversity within the U.S. Hispanic population when examining cancer disparities.
Notably, individuals with Caribbean heritage exhibited higher rates of lethal brain tumors compared to those from Mexico or Central America.
Cancer registries typically record Hispanic ethnicity as a single yes-no value. However, lead author Kyle Walsh, PhD, an associate professor in the Duke Department of Neurosurgery, explained that U.S. Hispanics originate from distinct geographical regions and are culturally and genetically diverse.
Walsh and his team, including senior author Quinn T. Ostrom, PhD, an assistant professor of neurosurgery at Duke, analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States.
Their research revealed a relatively high incidence of gliomas among Hispanics from Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and other Caribbean regions.
Conversely, Hispanics of Mexican or Central American origin tended to experience worse outcomes from gliomas compared to those from the Caribbean.
Historically, Walsh noted that more significant numbers of Europeans and Africans arrived in the Caribbean than in Central America, blending over time with the islands’ native populations, which may have increased glioma risk.
Higher European ancestry has been linked to an elevated risk of glioma, while African ancestry has been associated with better survival outcomes.
In the Caribbean, where many enslaved Africans arrived, populations have inherited a higher incidence of glioma due to European ancestry, along with improved survival rates linked to African heritage.
While the incidence rate of glioma among Caribbean Hispanics remains lower than that of non-Hispanic Whites, it is significantly higher than that found among Hispanics from Mexico and Central America.
“These differences appear partially attributable to ancestry-related genetic variations across U.S. Hispanic populations,” said Walsh. He further emphasized that structural and economic factors are likely to play a role in influencing patient survival.
Meet our associate editor, Dr. Kyle Walsh!
He is Associate Professor of #Neurosurgery and Director of the Division of #NeuroEpidemiology at Duke university. He completed doctoral studies in genetic #epidemiology at Yale University and an NCI post-doctoral fellowship at UCSF. pic.twitter.com/RiVNoJu5xP
— Editor – Neuro-Oncology Advances (@EditorNeuro) January 24, 2024
Two wonderful events, perfect for kids of all ages, happening THIS Saturday (@BioBus) and Sunday (@nysci)!! Be sure to stop by with the family and celebrate #brainawarenessweek2025 with BraiNY 🧠 pic.twitter.com/JB0XoF02Yc
— Be Brainy NYC (@ComeBeBraiNY) March 10, 2025
The #hypothalamus plays a large role in coordinating the neuronal signals that are responsible for keeping the body in a stable state.
A special issue unpacked this brain region’s impact on physiological and behavioral homeostasis. https://t.co/MyhZIU75PT #BrainAwarenessWeek pic.twitter.com/itNFEh6KT2
— Science Magazine (@ScienceMagazine) March 15, 2025
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