Dopamine News and Research

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Dopamine is a hormone and neurotransmitter occurring in a wide variety of animals, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the brain, this phenethylamine functions as a neurotransmitter, activating the five types of dopamine receptors — D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5, and their variants. Dopamine is produced in several areas of the brain, including the substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area. Dopamine is also a neurohormone released by the hypothalamus. Its main function as a hormone is to inhibit the release of prolactin from the anterior lobe of the pituitary. Dopamine has many functions in the brain, including important roles in behavior and cognition, motor activity, motivation and reward, inhibition of prolactin production (involved in lactation), sleep, mood, attention, and learning. Dopaminergic neurons (i.e., neurons whose primary neurotransmitter is dopamine) are present chiefly in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the midbrain, substantia nigra pars compacta, and arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.

New method provides valuable insights into the brain's noradrenaline system

An international team of researchers has provided valuable insights into the brain's noradrenaline (NA) system, which has been a longtime target for medications to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, depression, and anxiety.

24 Oct 2023

Groundbreaking study reveals most effective adjunctive drug for Parkinson's disease

The efficacy, tolerability, and safety of various anti-Parkinson's drugs.

23 Oct 2023

How the gut microbiome contributes to schizophrenia

Researchers explore potential relationships between schizophrenia, the gut microbiome, the gut-brain axis, and short-chain fatty acids.

19 Oct 2023

How do different organ microbiomes influence neuropsychiatric disorders?

Scientists review existing literature to understand how the microbiome influences neuropsychiatric disorders.

19 Oct 2023

How African sleeping sickness melts away body fat: New study sheds light on the role of lipolysis

Researchers find that the T. brucei parasite, responsible for African trypanosomiasis, triggers weight loss by disrupting fat cell lipolysis. The study shows that ATGL enzyme is key to this process, potentially offering a new angle for future research and treatment.

17 Oct 2023

Ketamine shows complex influence on social cognition in schizophrenia, study reveals

Researchers from the University of Bonn delve into the complex relationship between ketamine and social cognition deficits in schizophrenia, revealing both promising and cautionary insights.

12 Oct 2023

Study reveals a microbial metabolite's role in inducing Parkinson's-like symptoms

Researchers from the University of Vienna, University of Konstanz, and Albert Einstein College of Medicine uncover a potential environmental trigger for Parkinson's disease.

11 Oct 2023

Solriamfetol may be an effective alternative for managing ADHD in adults, trial shows

Although several medications are approved to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), some individuals experience limited benefits from the drugs or develop side effects from their use.

9 Oct 2023

Compulsive stress coping behaviors linked to brain's dopamine-dependent habit system

Researchers performed longitudinal studies in rats to measure the sensitivity of early established versus compulsive polydipsic alcohol (or water) drinking in response to bilateral infusion of α-flupentixol, anterior dorsolateral striatum (aDLS)-dopamine (DA) receptor antagonist.

2 Oct 2023

Parkinson's disease-related neuronal death more likely to occur at night

Disturbances in sleep patterns and the internal biological clock are frequently associated with Parkinson's disease.

29 Sep 2023

Brain compensation may delay worsening of Parkinson's symptoms

In Parkinson's disease, the cerebral cortex can take over tasks from a deeper part of the brain that has been damaged, where cells that make dopamine have been lost.

28 Sep 2023

Researchers find a promising drug candidate for the treatment of ALS

A research group at the University of Helsinki and its partners have found a promising drug candidate for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

22 Sep 2023

Transforming postpartum depression treatment with neurosteroids

A new study in Neuropsychopharmacology delves into the mechanisms of action of brexanolone, the first FDA-approved, rapid-acting antidepressant specifically for postpartum depression (PPD). The research highlights brexanolone's potential anti-inflammatory effects and its impact on GABAA receptors, offering insights into its efficacy and suggesting avenues for further study.

19 Sep 2023

Researchers identify new blood marker for dopamine system damage

The marker in question is called DOPA decarboxylase (DCC). In the current study, DCC was found to be elevated in individuals with Parkinson's disease as well as in people with other diseases that result in dopamine deficiency in the brain. However, the marker was normal in other brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The researchers even noticed that DCC was elevated in individuals with Parkinson's many years before they developed any symptoms.

19 Sep 2023

Gaining new insights into neurological diseases by studying circular RNAs in brain cells

Researchers are gaining new insights into neurological diseases by studying circular RNAs (circRNAs) in brain cells.

19 Sep 2023

Study upends common belief in what triggers Parkinson's disease

A new Northwestern Medicine study challenges a common belief in what triggers Parkinson's disease.

15 Sep 2023

New genetic test reveals a person’s predisposition to happiness

Your happiness levels aren't only based on external events. Genome testing can reveal how happy and optimistic you are predisposed to be. A leading testing expert reveals how variations of a key gene, CNR1, may have a significant impact on your level of happiness.

15 Sep 2023

Are energy drinks putting your heart and mind at risk?

Comprehensive review finds energy drinks linked to range of health risks, from cardiac arrhythmias to mental health issues. Researchers call for strict regulations on their consumption, especially among minors and pregnant women.

12 Sep 2023

Study identifies cellular processes that likely lead to Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease, characterized by various motor dysfunctions, is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world. It is known that specific gene mutations that are passed down through families are responsible for some cases of Parkinson's disease.

11 Sep 2023