by University of Bath Scientists at the University Bath have discovered a series of protein structures that are thought to be highly relevant to the onset of Parkinson’s disease. It is hoped that further analysis of these structures will open up a new avenue for potential treatment for a disease that is the fastest growing...
Tag: <span>Dopamine</span>
Stanford researchers develop artificial synapse that works with living cells
CREDIT: L.A. CICERO/STANFORD NEWS SERVICE In 2017, Stanford University researchers presented a new device that mimics the brain’s efficient and low-energy neural learning process. It was an artificial version of a synapse – the gap across which neurotransmitters travel to communicate between neurons – made from organic materials. In 2019, the researchers assembled nine of...
Sugar breaks down neural circuits that may cause us to overeat
By Nick Lavars June 09, 2020 It is well known that consuming food and drink high in sugar is not great for us, but scientists are continuing to unravel the intricacies of how the sweet stuff drives negative health outcomes. The latest finding comes from researchers at the University of Michigan, who through studies in...
Antihistamines and similar drugs could slow down Huntington’s disease
Controlling dopamine signalling by targeting the histamine receptor has been shown to be a promising strategy for preventing the progression of Huntington’s disease in mice Scientists have described a potential new therapeutic strategy for slowing down early-stage Huntington’s disease in a new study published today in eLife. The research in mice indicates that targeting the...
Molecular pair offers potential for Parkinson’s treatment, study finds
by Nanyang Technological University A promising molecular pair has offered hope that could lead to the development of a new treatment to slow down Parkinson’s disease, a study by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and Harvard University has found. Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s disease, affecting 7 to...
Researchers discover the science behind giving up
Posted Today This news or article is intended for readers with certain scientific or professional knowledge in the field. What happens when we give up? Inside the brain, a group of cells known as nociceptin neurons get very active before a mouse’s breakpoint. They emit nociceptin, a complex molecule that suppresses dopamine, a chemical largely associated with...
Study shows dopamine plays a role in musical pleasure
An international team of researchers has found evidence of dopamine in the brain playing a role in the pleasure people feel when they listen to music. In their paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the group describes experiments they carried out with volunteers who were given a dopamine precursor or antagonist...
UTSA uncovers the disconnect between the brain’s dopamine system and cocaine addiction
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO (San Antonio, Jan. 10, 2019) — Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio have revealed significant insight into cocaine addiction, a phenomenon which has grown significantly in the United States since 2015. Now new data by UTSA shows how the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine changes when...
Parkinson’s Disease at a cellular level: Recent research
Parkinson’s disease affects around one million people in the US and between seven and ten million worldwide. In people with Parkinson’s disease, the neurons in the brain that produce dopamine die off. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, a chemical that helps send messages in the brain. It is involved in many functions such as movement, reward,...
Bacteriophages: Are they an overlooked driver of Parkinson’s disease?
In the first study of its kind, researchers from the New York-based Human Microbiology Institute have discovered the role certain bacteriophages may play in the onset of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The research is presented at ASM Microbe, the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, held from June 7th to June 11th in Atlanta, Georgia. The researchers, led by...