A class of immune cells push themselves into an inflammatory state by producing large quantities of a serotonin-making enzyme, according to a study in mice led by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine. The study, published in Immunity, found that the inflammatory and infection-fighting abilities of the cells, called type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s), are...
by Karolinska Institutet Millions of people around the world use proton pump inhibitors for conditions like heartburn, gastritis and stomach ulcers. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report that the long-term use of these drugs could increase the risk of developing dementia. Their results are published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia. “We’ve been...
Now, his team has figured out how mutations in this protein, called synaptotagmin-1 or syt1, can lead to a rare condition known as syt1-associated neurodevelopmental disorder. The scientists’ discovery led them to identify a possible treatment, Chapman and his colleagues report May 1, 2020, in the journal Neuron. An email prompted the team’s investigation. In...
ANDERS BUCH-LARSEN-COPENHAGEN A new map of a neurotransmitter may lead to better drugs for ADHD, depression, epilepsy, and more, researchers report. The discovery also adds to the researchers’ knowledge of neurotransmitters in the brain. The map is of a new conformation of LeuT, a bacterial protein that belongs to the same family of proteins as...
by St. Petersburg State University Neurotransmitters are chemicals that transmit signals between neurons or from neurons to other cells. They interact with specific receptors found in the brain of humans and animals, controlling a variety of biological processes, e.g. fear, anger, pleasure, memory, energy, appetite and sleep. Today, scientists know various types of neurotransmitter systems:...
INSTITUTE OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY OF THE POLISH ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Dopamine, serotonin, adrenalin… The smooth functioning of the human brain depends on their correct proportions. Any disturbances mean diseases. That’s why it’s so important to be able to detect these disturbances as early as possible – before the appearance of any visible symptoms. This will...
Many neurodevelopmental disorders such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, and autism have been linked to disruption of the key neurotransmitter GABA, but the underlying causes of the disruptions have been difficult to pinpoint. In two new papers published Oct. 15 in Science Signaling, researchers from Yale, France, Japan, and the United Kingdom have zeroed in on a...
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...
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,...
One in 59 children in the United States lives with a form of autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The signs of autism begin in early childhood and can affect individuals differently. However, many with autism share similar symptoms, including difficulties with social communication. Researchers from the University of Missouri School...
