Dopaminergic News and Research

RSS

Deep brain stimulation shows promise for reducing self-injurious behavior in children with autism

Severe self-injurious behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses a significant risk of permanent physical injury.

20 Mar 2025

Integrated anti-aging strategy could reduce neurodegeneration

Aging significantly impacts neurodegeneration, increasing risks for diseases like Alzheimer's. Research focuses on therapies to enhance cognitive function.

11 Mar 2025

Phase 1 trial examines safety and feasibility of stem cell treatment for Parkinson's

A recently launched Phase 1 clinical trial at Mass General Brigham is examining the safety and feasibility of a groundbreaking treatment approach for Parkinson's disease in which a patient's stem cells are reprogrammed to replace dopamine cells in the brain damaged by the disease.

6 Mar 2025

TFE3 activation shows promise for counteracting Parkinson's disease pathology

This recent study highlights the neuroprotective potential of TFE3, a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in counteracting key pathological mechanisms associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).

2 Mar 2025

Can coffee push back Parkinson’s? New study uncovers key genetic link

Higher coffee consumption is causally linked to delayed onset of Parkinson’s disease but does not affect disease risk or progression, according to a Mendelian randomization study.

25 Feb 2025

Cholesterol metabolite linked to Parkinson's disease development in mice

Researchers led by Zhentao Zhang at Wuhan University, China have discovered a cholesterol metabolite that plays a critical role in the development of Parkinson's disease in mice.

18 Feb 2025

How immune cells and neurons secretly shape brain health, behavior, and disease

Scientists explore how the immune and nervous systems constantly communicate, influencing brain diseases, behavior, and repair while shaping responses to environmental factors like sleep, diet, and pollution.

13 Feb 2025

Study identifies novel enhancers linked to neuropsychiatric disorders

Neuropsychiatric disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent. Given their complex and multifactorial pathogenesis, there is an urgent need for effective and targeted therapies that can improve patients' quality of life.

13 Feb 2025

Study reveals biotin’s potential to mitigate manganese-induced brain damage

While manganese is an essential mineral involved in many bodily functions, both deficiency and excessive exposure can cause health issues.

21 Jan 2025

Bioactive compounds in coffee and tobacco may combat Parkinson’s disease

Tobacco and coffee contain bioactive compounds that may reduce Parkinson's disease risk by targeting key pathways such as MAO B inhibition, α-synuclein aggregation, and neuroinflammation.

7 Jan 2025

Space experiment shows faster maturation of brain organoids in microgravity

Microgravity is known to alter the muscles, bones, the immune system and cognition, but little is known about its specific impact on the brain.

18 Dec 2024

Study reveals dopamine's role in stress-induced cardiovascular responses

Under stress, animals change their behavior, such as through "fight or flight" or "freezing" response. Simultaneously, physiological responses essential for stress adaptation are triggered in the body.

16 Dec 2024

Dopamine and serotonin balance reward learning in opposing ways

If you've heard of two of the brain's chemical neurotransmitters, it's probably dopamine and serotonin. Never mind that glutamate and GABA do most of the work - it's the thrill of dopamine as the "pleasure chemical" and serotonin as tender mood-stabilizer that attract all the headlines.

25 Nov 2024

Predicting mood episodes with sleep data: A breakthrough for mental health care

Researchers developed a machine-learning model that uses only sleep-wake patterns to predict mood episodes in patients with mood disorders, achieving high accuracy. This approach simplifies real-world mental health monitoring using data from wearables or smartphones.

21 Nov 2024

Parkinson's study reveals dopamine's unexpected link to tremor

Researchers from the Champalimaud Foundation shed light on the puzzling relationship between dopamine and rest tremor in Parkinson's disease, finding that preserved dopamine in certain brain regions may actually contribute to tremor symptoms, challenging common beliefs.

18 Nov 2024

Human midbrain organoids: A promising tool in the fight against Parkinson's disease

Advancements in organoid technology are crucial for Parkinson's disease research, providing human-relevant models for studying disease and testing therapies.

23 Oct 2024

Differential gene expression linked to alcohol use disorder, offering new treatment possibilities

Researchers identified key gene expression differences in addiction-relevant brain regions that provide new insights into alcohol use disorder and potential therapeutic targets.

14 Oct 2024

New magnetogenetics technology holds promise as a powerful tool for studying the brain

A new technology enables the control of specific brain circuits non-invasively with magnetic fields, according to a preclinical study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, The Rockefeller University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

10 Oct 2024

Liver X receptor beta offers new hope in treating depression and anxiety

Liver X receptor beta (LXRβ) shows potential in reducing depression and anxiety by improving neurogenesis, reducing neuroinflammation, and enhancing cognitive and emotional function. More research on LXR agonists could reveal new treatments for mental health disorders.

8 Oct 2024

Replicating Lewy body formation in living neurons to understand Parkinson's disease

Lewy bodies are a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other related neurological conditions. Understanding why and how they develop is critical to developing better treatments.

8 Oct 2024