"Brain Pathway Discovery Paves Way for Potential Panic Disorder Cure"

Salk Institute researchers have identified a brain circuit outside of the amygdala that is involved in panic disorder. This circuit involves neurons that produce and respond to the neuropeptide PACAP, which is a key regulator of stress responses. By studying mice, they found that activation of PACAP-expressing neurons in the brain's parabrachial nucleus leads to panic-like symptoms. Inhibiting PACAP signaling reduced these symptoms, suggesting new potential targets for panic disorder therapeutics. The findings, which differentiate panic disorder from other anxiety disorders, could lead to more effective treatments specifically tailored to panic disorder.