Dopamine News and Research

Latest Dopamine News and Research

Teenage risk-taking linked to lower baseline dopamine levels

Teenage risk-taking, such as experimentation with alcohol, cannabis, nicotine and other substances, may reflect a compensatory response to lower baseline dopamine, the brain chemical for reward activity, suggests a new University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study, published today in Nature Communications.

11 Jun 2026

Weight loss drugs linked to lower risk of alcohol, opioid, nicotine and cocaine use disorders

A new study led by researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso found that use of weight loss drugs like Ozempic and other GLP-1s is associated with a lower risk of developing alcohol, opioid, nicotine and cocaine use disorders.

8 Jun 2026

Histamine boost helps the brain remember, decide, and learn from loss

Pitolisant, a histamine H3 receptor inverse agonist, improved recognition memory, working memory performance, and reinforcement learning in healthy adults. The findings suggest that histamine helps shape how the brain stabilizes new memories, accumulates evidence for decisions, and avoids overreacting to negative outcomes.

3 Jun 2026

Antidepressant drugs detected at potentially harmful levels in waterways

Depression, anxiety and sleep disorders are among the conditions often treated with antidepressant drugs. Yet, up to 90% of these drugs pass through the body into wastewater.

3 Jun 2026

Fruit fly study links dopamine to stress-induced sexual dysfunction

Scientists from Tokyo Metropolitan University have revealed key parts of the biochemical pathways connecting stress to sexual dysfunction.

30 May 2026

Vaginal bromocriptine may ease pain and heavy bleeding in adenomyosis

A pilot randomized controlled trial found that vaginal bromocriptine reduced menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, menstrual duration, and cycle irregularity in women with adenomyosis compared with routine treatment.

27 May 2026

Ghrelin rises in depression despite obesity’s usual appetite-hormone suppression

Researchers found that both acylated and deacylated ghrelin were elevated in unmedicated adults with major depressive disorder and obesity compared with non-depressed adults with obesity. The cross-sectional findings suggest ghrelin-system dysregulation may be linked to depression in obesity, but larger longitudinal studies are needed to test whether ghrelin is a reliable biomarker.

27 May 2026

Urine test may help identify autism risk in children

A simple urine test may help identify children at risk for autism sooner than current assessments - opening the door for earlier diagnosis and treatment, and better long-term outcomes for children who do have autism spectrum disorder.

26 May 2026

Gay dating apps during travel bring connection and emotional fatigue

New research shows that gay dating apps during travel can bring excitement and connection - but also emotional exhaustion, catfishing, and vulnerability.

25 May 2026

Shared humor and play strengthen children’s brains and emotional wellbeing

Making children laugh can build deep emotional connections and soothe their nervous systems, making them more resilient and open to new ideas, a leading child development expert tells us.

24 May 2026

Disrupted sleep rhythms may increase dementia risk through impaired waste clearance

Why are conditions such as chronic stress, depression, cardiovascular disease, fragmented sleep, and aging all associated with a higher risk of dementia? In a new review piece in Science, University of Rochester Medicine neuroscientist Maiken Nedergaard, MD, DMSc, proposes that many of these seemingly different conditions may converge on the same biological problem: disruption of a sleep-dependent brain rhythm that helps clear waste from the brain.

22 May 2026

GLP-1 drugs may help curb addiction by targeting reward pathways

GLP-1 receptor agonists, already used for Type 2 diabetes and obesity, show promise in reducing alcohol and drug-seeking behaviors through central reward and dopamine-related pathways. Most evidence remains preclinical, with limited early human data, so larger clinical trials are needed before these drugs can be recommended for addiction treatment.

21 May 2026

Anti-inflammatory drug tocilizumab shows promise for difficult-to-treat depression

Immunotherapy could be a promising new treatment option for patients with difficult-to-treat depression. This is a key finding from a University of Bristol-led pilot randomised controlled clinical trial, published in JAMA Psychiatry today [20 May].

20 May 2026

New study identifies dopamine's role in reversing Alzheimer's

Imagine if patients with Alzheimer's could have their memories restored. Such a future may seem like a pipe dream, but a new study by researchers at Tohoku University, in collaboration with the University of California, Irvine, has identified dopamine dysfunction as a previously unrecognized mechanism underlying memory impairment, unlocking a potential therapeutic means of reversing cognitive decline.

18 May 2026

Can supplements slow Parkinson’s disease? Review reveals where the evidence stands

Dietary supplements are widely used by people with Parkinson’s disease, but this review finds that none have yet been proven to slow disease progression. Biotics, nicotinamide riboside, and omega-3 fatty acids combined with vitamin E show the most promise, but larger, longer, and better-designed trials are needed.

14 May 2026

Scientists identify methylphenidate as an effective tool for combating chronic cancer-related fatigue

A new meta-analysis in the May 2026 issue of JNCCN-Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network provides updated evidence that methylphenidate-type psychostimulants-a class of medication that increases dopamine and norepinephrine availability in the brain-can provide meaningful relief for cancer-related fatigue.

14 May 2026