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L-dopa

·October 5, 2024·5 min read

New Molecule Offers Hope for Parkinson’s by Outperforming L-Dopa

A new study has discovered that ophthalmic acid, a molecule in the brain, acts like a neurotransmitter to regulate motor function, similar to dopamine. In Parkinson’s mouse models, this molecule improved movement for over 20 hours—far longer than the effects of the current treatment, L-dopa.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 6, 2024·5 min read

Dopamine Treatment Reduces Alzheimer’s Plaques

Researchers uncovered a promising approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease by using dopamine to enhance brain enzyme activity that reduces harmful plaques. Conducted on mice, the study shows that dopamine increases neprilysin production, which breaks down beta-amyloid plaques linked to Alzheimer's.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·May 11, 2022·7 min read

Designer Neurons Offer New Hope for Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

Researchers have designed a new method of converting non-neural cells into functioning neurons that are able to form synapses, dispense dopamine, and restore the function of neurons undermined by Parkinson's associated destruction of dopaminergic cells.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 1, 2022·2 min read

Harnessing Probiotics to Deliver Parkinson’s Disease Treatment

A newly developed probiotic bacteria that can synthesize the dopamine precursor L-DOPA is safe, well-tolerated, and eliminates the side effects associated with L-DOPA use for Parkinson's disease.

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·September 24, 2021·3 min read

Sonic Hedgehog Protein Pathway Stimulation Could Help Parkinson’s Patients

Drugs that increase signaling of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) can help suppress the involuntary movements associated with dopamine replacement therapy for those with Parkinson's disease.

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Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·March 1, 2021·6 min read

Individualized Brain Cell Grafts Reverse Parkinson’s Symptoms

Grafting neurons derived from a monkey's own stem cells reversed the debilitating and mental health symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease. The treatment shows promise for alleviating the symptoms of Parkinson's in humans.

This is a painting of the outline of a woman's head

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 16, 2021·5 min read

Dopamine Is Key to the Mystery of Metabolic Dysfunction in Psychiatric Patients

Anti-psychotic drugs do not only block dopamine signaling in the brain, they also block dopamine signaling in the pancreas. Blocking dopamine signaling in the pancreas leads to uncontrolled production of blood-glucose regulating hormones, increasing obesity and diabetes risks.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·December 9, 2020·4 min read

Tomatoes Offer Affordable Source of Parkinson’s Disease Drug

Genetically modified tomatoes enriched with L-DOPA may become a new and more affordable source for the essential Parkinson's disease drug.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·October 3, 2019·5 min read

Parkinson’s disease is also present in the blood

Parkinson's disease involves monocytic alterations in the blood. The cells have reduced viability and are unresponsive to specific stimuli, which could have relevant consequences for the progression of Parkinson's. Immune modulation medications may be a new treatment option to inhibit neurodegeneration associated with PD.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 12, 2019·3 min read

Estrogen improves Parkinson’s disease symptoms

Selective estrogen treatments appear to reduce symptoms of Parkinson's disease in male mice. The study sheds light on sex-based differences associated with the disease and may provide new therapeutic avenues for treatment.

This shows two head outlines with drawings of brains in them

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 6, 2019·4 min read

To cure brain diseases, neuroscientists must collaborate: That’s why I’m giving my data away

Open sharing of scientific data and standard methods will allow researchers to collaborate on projects and accelerate understanding of neurodegenerative diseases.