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.

Three intestinal bacteria associated with dementia with Lewy bodies discovered

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), one of the most common forms of dementia, has no cure. Previous studies suggested that gut bacteria, the microorganisms that live in the human digestive tract, play a role in Parkinson's disease, another neurodegenerative disorder, but the bacteria involved in DLB had not been identified.

28 Feb 2023

Tiny worm enables scientists to explore the theory that Parkinson's disease starts in the gut

A tiny worm called the C. elegans is enabling scientists to explore the emerging theory that Parkinson's disease starts in the gut.

28 Feb 2023

NQO2 gene as a novel potential target in Parkinson’s disease

A new study under review at the journal Scientific Reports and currently available on the Research Square* preprint server aimed to analyze the toxic effects of 6OHDA along with a related role of NQO2 in murine and human astrocytes.

23 Feb 2023

Minimally invasive focused ultrasound treatment improves symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease

Patients with Parkinson's disease achieved a significant improvement in their tremors, mobility, and other physical symptoms after having a minimally invasive procedure involving focused ultrasound, according to a new study today published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

23 Feb 2023

Researchers provide a framework for unifying and categorizing neurodegenerative diseases based on eight hallmarks

Researchers presented eight hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), their in vivo biomarkers, and interactions to help categorize NDDs and specify patients within a specific NDD.

21 Feb 2023

Direct measurements reveal the secrets of polydopamine coatings

Dopamine is best known as a neurotransmitter. What is rather unknown, however, the underwater glue used by mussels contains large amounts of L-Dopa molecules, an analog of dopamine.

17 Feb 2023

Brain cells may age faster in people with cocaine use disorder

A new study finds evidence from the DNA methylome that the biological age – different from the chronological age – of cells in Brodmann Area 9 of the prefrontal cortex might be greater in people with cocaine use disorder.

16 Feb 2023

Cocaine use disorder leads to changes in the 'methylome' of a brain region

Scientists tend to view substance addiction as primarily a disease of the brain. When we enjoy sex, food, music, or hobbies, regions of our brain within the reward pathway are flooded with pleasure-inducing dopamine.

14 Feb 2023

Researchers identify 27 genetic risk variants related to ADHD

Why do some people get ADHD, while others do not? And how early in life or in the womb is the seed of ADHD sown?

9 Feb 2023

Study finds distinct differences in how the brain releases dopamine in patients with alcohol use disorder

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that's made in the brain and acts as a chemical messenger, communicating between nerve cells in the brain and the rest of the body.

7 Feb 2023

What do gut microbiota have to do with Alzheimer's and dementia?

Researchers explore the preventive and therapeutic potential of gut microbiome modulation in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

6 Feb 2023

Machine learning identifies drugs that could be repurposed to help people quit smoking cigarettes

Medications like dextromethorphan, used to treat coughs caused by cold and flu, could potentially be repurposed to help people quit smoking cigarettes, according to a study by Penn State College of Medicine and University of Minnesota researchers.

30 Jan 2023

Researchers report on a genome-wide reconstruction of human microbes to develop personalized therapies

Researchers reported on AGORA2, an expansion of their previously published resource, AGORA, of genomewide metabolic reconstructions of human intestinal microbes.

26 Jan 2023

Study shows cutaneous touch neuronal cells to be critical for sexual receptiveness

Researchers studied the social relevance of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) Mrgprb4-lineage touch neurons in sexual touch and receptivity.

25 Jan 2023

Simple test could help clinicians spot abnormal blood levels of dopamine in patients

Altered levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are apparent in various conditions, such as Parkinson's disease and depression.

25 Jan 2023

Research shows how Huntington’s disease affects two distinct cell populations in the striatum

In patients with Huntington's disease, neurons in a part of the brain called the striatum are among the hardest-hit.

20 Jan 2023

Clinically relevant biomarker strategies in drug development

In this interview, NewsMedical speaks with Dr. Justin Devine and Dr. Nicholas Woudberg about biomarkers, their importance for drug development as well as the potential they have when it comes to machine learning.

From Synexa Life Sciences BV 9 Jan 2023

Specialized MRI sensor can detect light deep within tissues

Using a specialized MRI sensor, MIT researchers have shown that they can detect light deep within tissues such as the brain.

22 Dec 2022

Study discovers four genes linked to increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

A large study of military members led by researchers at Duke Health and the Durham VA identified four genes that are linked to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

15 Dec 2022

Gut-dwelling bacteria can promote the desire to exercise, study shows

Some species of gut-dwelling bacteria activate nerves in the gut to promote the desire to exercise, according to a study in mice that was led by researchers at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.