Dopamine News and Research

Latest Dopamine News and Research

Prolactin activates brain pathway promoting maternal caregiving behavior

New research has found a hormone is responsible for making mothers' interactions with newborns feel rewarding rather than just necessary.

22 Jul 2026

Bee venom boosts the effects of standard Parkinson's therapy

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons, leading to motor symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, slowed movement, and impaired balance, as well as cognitive decline.

22 Jul 2026

New peptide from cone snail venom shows promise for non-opioid pain relief

An international research team led by the Medical University of Vienna has investigated a new peptide derived from cone snail venom which significantly reduced inflammation-induced pain in an animal model.

21 Jul 2026

Gut microbial metabolites may shape vulnerability to stress-related mental disorders

Gut microbiome-derived metabolites may influence stress-related mental disorders through neural, immune, endocrine, and epigenetic pathways. Evidence is strongest for depression and preclinical models, while larger longitudinal human studies are needed to establish causality and clinical value.

20 Jul 2026

PET imaging reveals widespread brain receptor deficits in schizophrenia

A groundbreaking study using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging has found that patients with schizophrenia had significantly lower muscarinic acetylcholine M1 receptor availability (~13% to 19%) across multiple brain regions compared with healthy individuals.

16 Jul 2026

New drug candidate improves Parkinson's treatment in animal models

For many people with Parkinson's disease, the body stops moving the way it used to. A hand may tremble at rest. Muscles may stiffen.

15 Jul 2026

Gut microbiota may shape eating behavior and guide new obesity treatments

The review shows how gut microbiota may influence appetite, food reward, inflammation, and energy balance through the gut-brain axis. Microbiota-targeted approaches could support future treatments for obesity and eating disorders, but clinical evidence remains limited.

12 Jul 2026

Stem cell-derived dopaminergic cell transplantation shows encouraging results for Parkinson's disease

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced the presentation of new clinical data from the STEM-PD Phase I/II clinical trial at the ISSCR 2026 Annual Meeting.

9 Jul 2026

Clinical trial finds stem cell brain transplants feasible for Parkinson's disease

A landmark study led from Lund, Sweden, has shown that transplanting stem-cell derived dopamine progenitor cells into the brain is feasible.

9 Jul 2026

University of Malaga scientists find way to improve morphine treatments

Scientists at the Department of Cell Biology of the University of Malaga have taken a step forward in the search for more effective treatments for pain with a new study that continues advancing in mitigating the addictive effects of morphine -one of the main drugs used for this purpose- as well as the development of analgesic tolerance to this drug.

9 Jul 2026

Active birth control pills may increase emotional eating

Combined oral contraceptives are associated with increased emotional eating, suggesting hormonal effects on eating behaviors and potential binge eating risks.

9 Jul 2026

Tears may reveal important clues about a person's neurological health

A few tears may someday reveal important clues about a person's neurological health. Researchers reporting in ACS Omega developed a low-cost electrochemical sensor designed to detect dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in movement, learning, motivation, and emotional regulation.

8 Jul 2026

New review shows why antidepressants often fail in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s depression

A Molecular Psychiatry review shows that depression in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease may reflect disease-specific molecular, neurotransmitter, inflammatory, and circuit-level disruptions rather than standard depression biology alone. It argues that broad antidepressants often show limited efficacy in these patients and that future trials should use biomarkers, neuroimaging, and symptom profiling to guide targeted treatments.

7 Jul 2026

Review assesses the efficacy of creatine as an add-on therapy for depression

Walk into any gym supplement aisle and creatine is there, sold by the tub to people chasing bigger muscles. It is one of the most studied compounds in sports science.

30 Jun 2026

New viral model triggers Parkinson's symptoms without using toxins

Scientists usually use animal models when studying Parkinson's disease because these models mimic the disease well.

29 Jun 2026

Blueberries may boost children's memory and mood

Research suggests blueberry compounds could enhance mood and cognitive function in children, yet stronger evidence is required for clinical recommendations.

25 Jun 2026

Trial identifies 4 grams a day as the tested safe level for L-tyrosine in healthy men

A randomized, crossover trial in healthy adult men found that 4 weeks of L-tyrosine supplementation at doses up to 4 g/day did not cause clinically meaningful changes in safety markers, diet, blood pressure, or body measures. The highest tested dose, 4 g/day, was identified as the no-observed-adverse-effect level under the study’s four-week conditions, although broader and longer-term studies are still needed.

23 Jun 2026