Impact
Memory. Movement. Language. Emotion. Identity. When the brain falters, so does the very essence of who we are. At WashU Medicine, we’re driven by the urgency to preserve and restore what makes us human. The brain is the last, vast frontier of human health and within its mysteries lie the answers to some of medicine’s most complex diseases, from Alzheimer’s and ALS to dementia, depression and more.
Neurosciences by the numbers
Global leaders
in neurosciences
#1 NIH funding for neurology research
120+ research labs
1,000+ researchers
Turning psychedelics into lifesaving treatments
Once dismissed as counterculture curiosities, psychedelic drugs are now reshaping the landscape of mental health research. WashU Medicine researchers are uncovering their potential to treat depression, PTSD and other conditions — bringing rigorous science to a field historically shrouded in mystery.
Inside the fight to cure Alzheimer’s
WashU Medicine is at the forefront of a seismic shift in neuroscience, where innovative research is transforming the fight against Alzheimer’s. Meet the families living under the weight of genetic destiny — and the scientists racing to change it. Their groundbreaking work is revealing new hope in a battle long thought unwinnable.
The key to curing neurodegenerative disease? It may be sleep.
While you sleep, your brain isn’t resting — it’s cleaning. WashU Medicine researchers discovered that neurons act as tiny pumps, creating waves that flush out harmful waste. This natural detox system could be key to preventing Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases and scientists here are exploring whether optimizing this process could improve brain health.
Discover more innovations in neuroscience research and care in Outlook Magazine »
