A preclinical study found that blocking the Bach1 protein slowed brain cell deterioration in Parkinson's disease. The researchers identified a potent inhibitor of Bach1 called HPPE, which protected cells from inflammation and oxidative stress, and showed promise as a potential therapeutic target.
SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2021
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Researchers from The Stuber Lab discovered that certain neurons in the brain light up in obese mice, preventing signals that indicate satiety. The study found that these neurons communicate with regions involved in depression and motivation, suggesting a link between eating disorders and addiction.
SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 12, 2021
Researchers discovered that a brain area traditionally thought to specialize in old habits also plays a role in learning new actions. The study found that the dorsolateral striatum is involved in consolidating action learning immediately after the new action has been learned.
SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 26, 2021
A study found that transcranial stimulation can increase the benefits of aerobic exercise and improve gait in Parkinson's patients. The treatment uses a weak current delivered by electrodes placed over specific brain regions, activating the pre-frontal cortex.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNeurorehabilitation and Neural Repair·DateAug 24, 2021
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Researchers found that farnesol prevents loss of dopamine neurons and reverses behavioral deficits in mice, indicating its potential as a drug treatment for Parkinson's disease. The compound blocks the PARIS protein, which is involved in the progression of the disease.
SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJul 28, 2021
Researchers found a compound derived from turmeric essential oil has neuroprotective properties against Parkinson's disease, by enhancing cellular antioxidants and activating Nrf2. The findings suggest that compounds with anti-inflammatory effects on microglia may suppress dopaminergic degeneration, opening new avenues for treatment.
Studies have shown that oxytocin neurons connecting the hypothalamus to a reward area fire when vole fathers care for their offspring, increasing paternal behavior. This neural pathway is also involved in maternal behavior, highlighting potential connections between fatherly and motherly care.
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Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a novel brain circuit that regulates satiation response in mice, suggesting potential for weight control. The circuit connects dopamine-producing neurons with downstream neurons, suppressing food intake and triggering meal termination.
SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalJournal of Mathematical Sciences Advances and Applications·DateMay 26, 2021
Researchers at the University of Sussex developed a new computational model that demonstrates a link between insect and mammalian learning. The model shows how dopamine neurons in a fruit fly's brain produce similar signals to those in mammals, enabling reliable instruction for learning.
SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 7, 2021
Researchers discovered that a protein called VGLUT plays a key role in regulating sex differences in brain vulnerability to age-related dopamine neuron loss. Higher levels of VGLUT were found in female neurons, correlating with greater resilience to neurodegeneration and mobility deficiencies.
SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalAging Cell·DateApr 28, 2021
Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine discovered that individual nerve cells control the release of dopamine, a key player in motivation and movement. The finding challenges traditional views on dopamine regulation and provides new insights into Parkinson's disease.
SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalCell Reports·DateApr 6, 2021
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Researchers discovered novel neurocircuitry in mice that links leptin to the brain's dopamine reward system, reducing food intake. The study suggests targeting specific neurons may help treat anorexia nervosa and support dieting in obese individuals.
SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateApr 6, 2021
A new study published in Frontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience reveals that neurons in a brain area associated with depression connect to an anti-reward system during cocaine withdrawal. This reorganization of brain circuits may drive negative behavior and depressive symptoms.
SourceWyss Center for Bio and Neuroengineering·JournalFrontiers in Synaptic Neuroscience·DateMar 31, 2021
Researchers found that the Parkinon's gene PINK1 impairs the process of generating dopamine-producing neurons in the brain throughout adulthood. This discovery has significant implications for the future treatment of Parkinson's patients who develop the illness due to PINK1 defect or similar gene defects.
SourceUniversity of Sheffield·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 23, 2021
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Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.
A new study published in Neuron shows that dopamine neurons play a key role in regulating pain responses in male and female mice, with females responding by focusing attention elsewhere when in pain. The research provides insights into the neural pathways involved in sex differences in pain sensitivity.
SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNeuron·DateMar 18, 2021
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum have developed a method to control the direction of nerve fiber growth using magnetic nanoparticles. The team successfully implanted functionalized nanoparticles into model neurons, allowing them to guide axon growth and potentially promote regeneration in Parkinson's patients.
SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 18, 2021
St Petersburg University researchers found that lack of TAAR5 leads to higher dopamine neurons and increased adult neurogenesis, potentially treating neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease. TAAR5 is present in neurogenic areas and regulates adult neurogenesis.
SourceSt. Petersburg State University·JournalNeuropharmacology·DateNov 10, 2020
Research on Drosophila melanogaster reveals that dopaminergic neurons respond to both internal behavioral states and external signals, enabling flexible and individualized decision-making. The study provides insights into how dopamine contributes to neural circuit functionality and behavior.
SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJul 15, 2020
Researchers at the University of Tsukuba found that dopamine neurons represent different parts of the decision-making process, including both evaluation and choice. The study suggests that these neurons send decision signals to other brain areas, ultimately influencing muscle action and informing choices in everyday life.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 7, 2020
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Researchers at GW University are investigating changes in the ventral tegmental area of the brain during chronic stress, a common contributor to depression and anxiety disorders. The study aims to understand how stress affects the reward circuitry and identify potential treatments.
A single treatment inhibiting PTB converts astrocytes into dopamine-producing neurons, restoring dopamine levels and eliminating Parkinson's disease symptoms in mice. The study provides a proof of concept for a new therapeutic approach.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature·DateJun 24, 2020
Researchers identified novel region-specific molecular markers for targeting specific subpopulations of dopamine D2 receptor neurons in the striatum, revealing functional specificity among these neuron populations. The study found that D2 neurons in different areas of the brain express distinct proteins and exhibit altered functions.
SourceUniversitat Autonoma de Barcelona·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 13, 2020
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Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown identified a novel digestive-brain axis that influences food choice and behavior. The study found that post-ingestive signals from the liver through the Vagus Nerve play a crucial role in learning to prefer nutritious foods.
SourceChampalimaud Centre for the Unknown·JournalNeuron·DateApr 6, 2020
Researchers at KAUST have developed a cellular model of neuronal development that relies on L1 retrotransposons to form dopamine-producing neurons. The study reveals the importance of L1 activation in successful reprogramming of skin cells into neuronal cells.
SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateMar 26, 2020
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center found that people with Parkinson's disease before age 50 were born with disordered brain cells. The study suggests a potential new treatment using PEP005, which reduced alpha-synuclein levels and countered abnormal enzyme activity in dopamine neurons.
SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalNature Medicine·DateJan 27, 2020
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Scientists have discovered a non-invasive technique that can successfully target both cholinergic and dopaminergic neurons, two major neurotransmitter systems affected by Parkinson's disease. This breakthrough could lead to a more precise and effective treatment for the condition.
SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalNeurotherapeutics·DateJan 21, 2020
Researchers discovered that Parkinson's disease symptoms begin when dopaminergic neurons are in a dormant state, not just after death. Treatment targeting excessive astrocytic GABA may alleviate symptoms by awakening dormant neurons.
SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 9, 2020
Researchers at the University of Toronto have discovered the brain cells responsible for nicotine aversion in mice, paving the way for new treatments to help smokers quit. The study found that dopamine neurons signal reward and GABA neurons signal aversion in the ventral tegmental area.
SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2019
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A new mechanism has been discovered for the development of Parkinson's disease, which could lead to a more targeted therapy. Researchers have found that excessive calcium influx through specific ion channels, Cav2.3 channels, contribute significantly to the disease.
SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 12, 2019
Researchers found that Parkinson's disease dopamine neurons can shut down without fully dying, releasing chemicals that cause inflammation and senescence in healthy neighbors. This discovery suggests new avenues for therapies targeting SATB1 or p21 to prevent or slow the disease.
SourceRockefeller University·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateNov 11, 2019
Researchers at Scripps Research have discovered a key brain-cell change that may drive opioid addiction. By reversing this change, they hope to reduce symptoms of addiction and develop new treatments.
SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalCell Reports·DateOct 22, 2019
A new strategy to treat Parkinson's disease has been developed by amplifying healthy GCase enzymes, alleviating symptoms in both human brain cells and mouse models. This approach may be relevant for multiple forms of PD with reduced activity of wild-type GCase.
SourceNorthwestern University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 16, 2019
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine discovered a molecular defect that could lead to an accurate, early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. They also identified a compound that reverses this defect in cells from patients and prevents neuronal death in animal models.
SourceStanford Medicine·JournalCell Metabolism·DateSep 26, 2019
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Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and cognitive impairments. Scientists listed ways of applying genetic engineering to study and treat the disease, including manipulating mitochondria and iron homeostasis. CRISPR technology holds promise for finding new effective treatments.
SourceSechenov University·JournalFree Radical Biology and Medicine·DateSep 10, 2019
A recent study found a brain circuit that connects the feeding and mood centers of the brain, which may explain associations between depression, metabolism, and eating behavior. The researchers discovered that when depression was induced in mice by chronic stress, they ate less and lost weight.
SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 4, 2019
A study published in Cell reveals that large complex neurotransmitters, such as neuropeptides, have a robust effect on animal behavior by regulating the ventral tegmental area. The findings could lead to helping people find motivation when they are depressed and decreasing motivation for drugs in substance-abuse disorders.
SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalCell·DateJul 25, 2019
Researchers discover that a gut infection can trigger symptoms of Parkinson's disease, suggesting an immune component to the disease. The study found that infection caused auto-immunity, leading to the killing of dopaminergic neurons.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have discovered that food and drugs can hijack the brain's reward circuits, which are also responsible for signaling hunger. This knowledge could inform the creation of more effective weight loss drugs or addiction therapies with fewer unpleasant side effects.
SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNeuron·DateJul 2, 2019
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Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.
Rockefeller scientists have found that an animal's education relies on both what experiences it acquires and when it acquires them. Studying fruit flies, researchers showed that a single odor can become either appealing or disgusting depending on the timing of its encounter relative to a reward.
Researchers at UC San Diego found that neonatal nicotine exposure changes the biochemistry of the reward circuitry in mice brains, increasing their preference for nicotine in later adulthood. This study suggests a potential mechanism for how early life exposure to nicotine may contribute to addiction later in life.
SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateMay 21, 2019
A new study reveals that a previously unknown neural circuit, PPL2, plays a crucial role in regulating the strength of memories in fruit flies. The researchers found that activating this circuit can strengthen or weaken memories, depending on the context.
SourceScripps Research Institute·JournalCell Reports·DateMay 14, 2019
Using a mouse model of Parkinson's disease, researchers identified unusual patterns of brain activity that appear to underlie its signature symptoms. The striatal neurons' normal pattern of activity warps when dopamine levels are low, leading to synchronized cell firing and repetitive movements.
SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·DateFeb 19, 2019
Researchers at the University of Houston's Akay Lab found that chronic nicotine exposure during pregnancy significantly activates dopamine neurons in newborns, leading to unusually high levels of dopamine. This altered gene expression may hold the key to developing targeted medication to eliminate addiction in offspring.
SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 5, 2019
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Researchers mapped inputs to ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons and found highly similar inputs across different cell populations. The study suggests a more random connectivity logic where inputs connect semi-randomly in regions to which the neurons project.
SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 24, 2019
A team of scientists has discovered how flies coordinate long flight bouts by releasing neuronal brakes, allowing them to conserve energy. The finding reveals that a specific circuit involving dopamine-producing neurons and GABA-producing output neurons regulates flight duration.
SourceNational Centre for Biological Sciences·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 8, 2019
A NIH study suggests that hyperactive immune systems may contribute to the development of age-related brain disorders. Altering a key gene involved in early brain development led to increased autophagy failure and subsequent immune system attack on dopamine-releasing neurons, causing neurodegenerative damage.
SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 2, 2019
A new study finds that dopamine is released in response to both pleasurable and unpleasurable experiences, training the brain to avoid painful stimuli. This yin-yang personality of dopamine has significant implications for treating addiction and other mental disorders, including schizophrenia.
SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNeuron·DateDec 10, 2018
Researchers at University of Tsukuba found that dopamine neurons are key to inhibiting preplanned actions in monkeys, suggesting a possible mechanism for treating diseases with impaired inhibition. The study used gaze fixation experiments to train monkeys to redirect their attention and measure neuronal activity.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalNeuron·DateNov 8, 2018
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A neuronal circuit in nematode worms modulates locomotion by dopamine and neuropeptide signaling, findings that may provide insights into food-motivated behavior in humans. The study suggests that similar inhibitory balancing mechanisms may be present in mammals.
SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalNeuron·DateNov 5, 2018
Scientists have discovered that alcohol blocks a potassium channel called KCNK13 in the brain, leading to increased dopamine release and pleasure. This finding presents an exciting new target for developing drugs to treat alcohol use disorder.
SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalNeuropharmacology·DateOct 22, 2018
Researchers accidentally convert mature inhibitory neurons into dopamine-producing cells using a cocktail of proteins. The new cells show rhythmic activity and network connections similar to native dopaminergic neurons.
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that mature inhibitory neurons can be transformed into a different type of neuron without relying on stem cells. The study reveals the possibility of changing mature neurons in adulthood and may lead to therapeutic strategies for treating neurological diseases.
SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateOct 11, 2018
Researchers at Lehigh University identify fruit fly protein Scarlet as a key to preventing age-dependent loss of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. The study found that Scarlet has a neuroprotective role in a model of the disease, suggesting potential for future treatments.
SourceLehigh University·JournalJournal of Cell Science·DateOct 3, 2018
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Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.
A comprehensive study has cataloged over 70,000 novel noncoding RNAs active in dopamine neurons, implicating them in conditions like Parkinson's disease and schizophrenia. The findings suggest that genetic risk variants may affect gene switches in these specialized cells.
SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 20, 2018
Researchers at University of Tsukuba identified two molecules, Ptf1a and Meis, that specify the development of a hypothalamus-like region in sea squirt embryos. These findings have implications for understanding brain development and potentially treating diseases like Parkinson's disease.
SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalGenes & Development·DateSep 20, 2018
A recent study from Prof. Gaiti Hasan's lab has identified the FMRFa receptor as a crucial molecule in sustaining flight in fruit flies for long periods of time. The receptor is part of a class of proteins known as GPCRs, which help convert extracellular messages into cellular responses.
SourceNational Centre for Biological Sciences·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateSep 6, 2018
Researchers developed a protocol to isolate dopaminergic neurons from stem cells, improving cell-replacement therapy outcomes. The study found that transplanted cells with the contactin 2 protein exhibited better dopamine release and reduced motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease models.
SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateAug 23, 2018
Researchers investigate the role of dopamine neurons in assigning value to environmental cues, revealing parallel motivational roles for different types of neurons. This study contributes to understanding relapse in addiction by highlighting the importance of normal cue-triggered motivation.
SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateAug 7, 2018
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Researchers used a Pavlovian model to investigate the role of dopamine neurons in assigning value to environmental cues. They found that dopamine neurons can imbue cues with motivational value, driving actions and approach towards specific locations.
SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateAug 2, 2018
Researchers developed a computational method to accurately predict cell subpopulation conversions, enabling potential applications in regenerative medicine. The platform, TransSyn, identifies subtle genetic differences between cell subtypes, allowing for targeted gene expression alteration and cell reprogramming.
SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 27, 2018