(ORDO News) — Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disease that affects millions of people around the world, has long been associated with the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain.
However, a pioneering study conducted at the University of Montreal has shed new light on the development of this disease and has shown that it can silently progress for more than 10 years before symptoms appear.
A team of researchers led by neuroscientist Louis-Eric Trudeau found that motor circuits in the brains of mice remain unaffected even when active dopamine secretion is almost completely lost. This discovery challenges conventional wisdom about dopamine’s role in movement and raises questions about its true function in the brain.
This observation was contrary to our original hypothesis, but that is often the case in science, and it forced us to reconsider what dopamine actually does in the brain,” explains Trudeau.
To investigate further, the researchers used genetic manipulations to turn off the release of dopamine in response to normal electrical activity in dopamine-producing neurons. Surprisingly, despite the lack of dopamine release, the mice showed normal motor function.
At the same time, another group, led by trauma surgeon Louis de Beaumont, measured total dopamine levels in the brains of these mice. The results showed that extracellular dopamine levels remained within normal limits. This suggests that only low basal levels of dopamine are required to operate motor circuits in the brain.
Researchers suggest that in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, basal levels of dopamine in the brain remain quite high for many years, despite a gradual decrease in the number of dopamine-producing neurons. And only when dopamine levels fall below a certain threshold do motor disorders begin to appear.
The results obtained are of great importance for the study of Parkinson’s disease and possible methods of its treatment. Understanding the mechanisms involved in dopamine secretion may allow scientists to develop new approaches to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of this incurable disease.
Dr. Benoit Deligna-Laveau, a postdoctoral fellow in Trudeau’s lab and co-author of the study, reflecting on the unexpected results, says: “We expected to see in these mice a loss of motor function similar to that seen in people with Parkinson’s disease. But – surprise! The mice showed absolutely normal ability to move.”
Parkinson’s disease affects approximately 10 million people worldwide, and symptoms include tremors, rigidity, and difficulties with balance and coordination. It is a chronic and progressive disease that currently has no cure.
This groundbreaking research offers hope for a better understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease. By unlocking the secrets of dopamine secretion and its role in the brain, scientists are one step closer to developing effective treatments that can improve the quality of life for people suffering from this debilitating disease.
—
Online:
News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.
To eliminate any confusion arising from different time zones and daylight saving changes, all times displayed on our platforms are in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).