Global Scans · Neuroscience · Weekly Summary

• [New] A new international study led by researchers from UNSW Sydney's Center for Healthy Brain Aging has developed the first practical, five-year dementia risk prediction tool for stroke survivors-using only information that's routinely collected in hospitals and clinics. Bristol After Stroke
• [New] Neuralink will start high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices this year. semiwiki
• [New] Research on brain diseases remains uneven across regions and insufficiently representative of human diversity, even though by 2050, more than two-thirds of people affected by brain disorders will live in the Global South. Paris Brain Institute
• [New] Sustained exposure to bushfire smoke has been linked to lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and can also increase risk of cardiovascular diseases and other diseases such as dementia and lung and brain cancers. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Pure-play psychedelic developers offer asymmetric upside tied to discrete clinical and regulatory inflection points, while larger neuroscience companies provide a more measured way to participate in innovation with lower binary risk. Gainify
• [New] 2026 could bring new, minimally invasive brain implants capable of detecting brain signals with high precision and bandwidth, and minimal stress on brain tissue. TechTarget
• [New] Women's brain health is estimated as a $250 billion opportunity, representing 26% of the famous $1 trillion gap. Pharmaphorum
• [New] Over the course of 2026, additional technologies will integrate logic into neural networks, providing more robust probabilistic reasoning. TechTarget
• [New] In a major shift for how mental health conditions might be treated, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first at-home brain-stimulation device to treat moderate to severe major depressive disorder. New Atlas
• [New] Wearable Devices Ltd. will demonstrate how neural interaction can become a reliable and intuitive control method across smart-glasses and screens at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. MarketScreener
• [New] Neuralink will begin high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices with an almost entirely automated surgical procedure. NeuralBuddies
• [New] Elon Musk says he's planning to ramp up production of his Neuralink brain chips in 2026 and will automate the procedure to implant them into humans. Business Insider
• [New] Faster processing enables robotic dogs to analyze environments in real-time, a point echoed in IEEE Spectrum's coverage of new technologies emerging in 2026, including brain chips and space missions that could inspire further robotic advancements. WebProNews
• [New] Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company Neuralink plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implants and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure in 2026. The Daily Star
• [New] Apple is widely expected to refresh the current iPad Air by adding its newer M4 chip, bringing modest gains in CPU, GPU and neural performance over the M3 iteration. Cult of Mac
• [New] While visual training will likely continue to be a productive part of treatment for people with hemianopia, the EPFL study demonstrates that external brain stimulation with cf-tACS is a promising method for improving vision, and with it, quality of life. New Atlas
• [New] 2026 will mark the beginning of mass production of brain-computer interface devices, alongside a transition to fully automated surgical procedures for implant operations. ana.press
• [New] Recurrent Neural Networks and LSTMs will dominate personalized shopping experiences by 2026. Software House
• [New] Graph Neural Networks will explode by 2026 for fraud detection and risk analysis. Software House
• [New] By 2026, expect neural networks to be deeply integrated into every facet of business, products, and services, extending far beyond just research applications. Software House
• [New] Neuralink will start mass producing brain chips in 2026. India Today
• [New] Elon Musk's Neuralink will begin mass production of brain implants by 2026, following FDA approval and $650M funding. Republic World

Last updated: 18 January 2026