Dopamine News and Research

Latest Dopamine News and Research

Increased signaling by sonic hedgehog protein can inhibit LID in Parkinson's patients

Levodopa, or L-dopa, is considered the most effective treatment for Parkinson's disease today. After a few years of treatment, however, almost all patients develop a debilitating side-effect called L-dopa induced dyskinesia, or LID, which causes involuntary movements in the limbs, face, and torso. Deep brain stimulation can alleviate LID, but the procedure is highly invasive and not all patients are eligible.

23 Sep 2021

Revival of the cell and gene therapy field opens new avenues for repairing the Parkinsonian brain

After several decades of pre-clinical development, cell- and gene-based therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD) are now actively being explored.

21 Sep 2021

Discovery points toward a new strategy for treating Parkinson’s disease

University of Utah Health scientists have identified a molecule that slows cells’ production of alpha-synuclein, a protein that forms toxic aggregates in the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease.

21 Sep 2021

Cross-species locomotion features shared by dopamine-deficient worms, mice, and humans

Scientists from the Graduate School of Information Science and Technology at Osaka University used animal location tracking along with artificial intelligence to automatically detect walking behaviors of movement disorders that are shared across species.

18 Sep 2021

Research paves the way for advances in the treatment of many brain disorders

Bristol-led research has identified specific drug targets within the neural circuits that encode memories, paving the way for significant advances in the treatment of a broad spectrum of brain disorders.

16 Sep 2021

Researchers disprove natural antioxidant urate for slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease

The hypothesis that raising the brain levels of the natural antioxidant urate could slow the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD) has been disproven by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital.

14 Sep 2021

High levels of stress hormones associated with hypertension and cardiovascular events

Adults with normal blood pressure and high levels of stress hormones were more likely to develop high blood pressure and experience cardiovascular events compared to those who had lower stress hormone levels, according to new research published today in Hypertension, an American Heart Association journal.

13 Sep 2021

Elevated levels of serotonin can curb cocaine addiction in mice

Elevated levels of serotonin can prevent the development of compulsive cocaine seeking and addiction in mice, researchers report.

13 Sep 2021

Neuroscientists reveal brain mechanism related to how serotonin controls cocaine addiction

Contrary to common thinking, cocaine triggers an addiction only in 20% of the consumers. But what happens in their brains when they lose control of their consumption? Thanks to a recent experimental method, neuroscientists at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, have revealed a brain mechanism specific to cocaine, which has the particularity of triggering a massive increase in serotonin in addition to the increase in dopamine common to all drugs.

12 Sep 2021

Study finds SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain by binding with MAO enzymes

A new study by researchers in Croatia and Slovenia shows the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein has an affinity towards monoamine oxidases (MAO) enzymes. Changes in MAO levels have been the culprit for several neuropsychiatric disorders such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s disease.

6 Sep 2021

Researchers find new reward circuitry beyond dopamine

The key to overcoming addictions and psychiatric disorders lives deep inside the netherworld of our brains and the circuitry that causes us to feel good.

1 Sep 2021

Old habit-controlling neurons may also play a critical role in new action learning

Imagine working on your computer and typing the same long password you have used for years to access your email.

26 Aug 2021

Aerobic exercise combined with tDCS improves the gait of Parkinson's patients

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can increase the benefits of aerobic exercise and improve the gait of patients with Parkinson's disease immediately after a session. Step time variability decreases, reaction time shortens, and executive control of gait is enhanced.

25 Aug 2021

Researchers uncover new mitochondrial recycling pathway that may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

Scientists have long known that living cells are master recyclers, constantly breaking down old parts and building them back up into new molecular machines.

6 Aug 2021

Scientists decipher missing pieces of the reward system puzzle to increase motivation

Our motivation to put effort into achieving a goal is controlled by a reward system wired in the brain. However, many neuropathological conditions impair the reward system, diminishing the will to work.

6 Aug 2021

Non-invasive brain stimulation may reduce smoking frequency in nicotine-dependent smokers

A new systematic review of randomized controlled trials has found evidence that non-invasive brain stimulation may reduce smoking frequency (number of cigarettes per day) in nicotine-dependent smokers.

4 Aug 2021

Study shows pharmacological rescue of mitochondrial defect related to Parkinson's disease

Treating mice that have a Parkinson's disease-causing mutation with a small molecule compound restores the removal of damaged mitochondria from their brain cells, shows a study published today in eLife.

3 Aug 2021

Natural compound prevents, reverses brain damage linked to Parkinson's disease in mice

Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers say they have added to evidence that the compound farnesol, found naturally in herbs, and berries and other fruits, prevents and reverses brain damage linked to Parkinson's disease in mouse studies.

28 Jul 2021

Brain's "feel good" chemical messenger can be willfully manipulated, study shows

From the thrill of hearing an ice cream truck approaching to the spikes of pleasure while sipping a fine wine, the neurological messenger known as dopamine has been popularly described as the brain's "feel good" chemical related to reward and pleasure.

23 Jul 2021

Investigational antipsychotic treatment offers sustained benefits for people with dementia-related psychosis

Evidence of the sustained benefits of an investigational antipsychotic treatment for people with dementia-related psychosis has been published.

22 Jul 2021

Dopamine News and Research

Latest Dopamine News and Research

Increased signaling by sonic hedgehog protein can inhibit LID in Parkinson's patients

Revival of the cell and gene therapy field opens new avenues for repairing the Parkinsonian brain

Discovery points toward a new strategy for treating Parkinson’s disease

Cross-species locomotion features shared by dopamine-deficient worms, mice, and humans

Research paves the way for advances in the treatment of many brain disorders

Researchers disprove natural antioxidant urate for slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease

High levels of stress hormones associated with hypertension and cardiovascular events

Elevated levels of serotonin can curb cocaine addiction in mice

Neuroscientists reveal brain mechanism related to how serotonin controls cocaine addiction

Study finds SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain by binding with MAO enzymes

Researchers find new reward circuitry beyond dopamine

Old habit-controlling neurons may also play a critical role in new action learning

Aerobic exercise combined with tDCS improves the gait of Parkinson's patients

Researchers uncover new mitochondrial recycling pathway that may be linked to Parkinson’s disease

Scientists decipher missing pieces of the reward system puzzle to increase motivation

Non-invasive brain stimulation may reduce smoking frequency in nicotine-dependent smokers

Study shows pharmacological rescue of mitochondrial defect related to Parkinson's disease

Natural compound prevents, reverses brain damage linked to Parkinson's disease in mice

Brain's "feel good" chemical messenger can be willfully manipulated, study shows

Investigational antipsychotic treatment offers sustained benefits for people with dementia-related psychosis

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

Scaling organ‑chip technology for human‑relevant drug discovery

Unlocking drug amorphization: Continuous, solvent-free twin screw granulation

Dopamine News and Research

Latest Dopamine News and Research

Todd Bauman and Chris Povich

Scaling organ‑chip technology for human‑relevant drug discovery

Unlocking drug amorphization: Continuous, solvent-free twin screw granulation

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