All articles tagged with #acetylcholine
A study shows that playing specific brain-training games for 30 minutes daily can increase acetylcholine levels in older adults, potentially offsetting up to a decade of cognitive decline caused by aging, unlike casual games like Candy Crush. The research highlights the importance of targeted mental exercises for brain health.
A 10-week study shows that mental exercises can increase acetylcholine levels in the brain of older adults, potentially reversing age-related decline in decision-making and memory functions, similar to effects seen in early Alzheimer's treatments.
A study shows that a brain training program using BrainHQ can increase acetylcholine production in older adults, potentially helping to offset age-related cognitive decline, with exercises designed to challenge and adapt to the user's level.
A study on rats suggests that a junk food diet during adolescence may lead to long-lasting memory impairments due to disruptions in acetylcholine, a crucial neurotransmitter for memory and learning. Even after switching to a healthier diet, the memory deficits persisted into adulthood, highlighting the potential irreversible effects of poor dietary habits on cognitive functions. The research emphasizes the critical impact of diet on brain development and suggests avenues for future research on mitigating the impact of dietary choices.
A study at the University of Southern California suggests that a diet high in fat and sugar during adolescence may lead to long-term memory impairment in adulthood, similar to findings in rats. The research indicates that a junk food-filled diet may disrupt a teen’s memory ability for a long time, affecting the levels of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for memory and brain function. While the study shows hope for intervention with medication inducing the release of acetylcholine, further research is needed to understand how memory problems from a junk food diet during adolescence may be reversible.
Researchers have discovered wave-like patterns of the neurochemical acetylcholine in the striatum, a region crucial for motivating actions. This follows previous findings of similar patterns in dopamine in the same region. The study proposes a new mathematical model explaining the simultaneous generation of both acetylcholine and dopamine waves, challenging traditional beliefs about neuronal interactions. The research provides insights into the delicate balance between these neurochemicals and may have implications for understanding movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.
Light receptor cells in the visual systems of fruit flies transmit both histamine and acetylcholine in response to the same light signal. These molecules act on different neurons, with one type creating an image and the other synchronizing biological rhythms with the day-night cycle.
Researchers have discovered a non-opioid pathway in the brain that provides pain relief similar to opioids but without the risk of addiction. By targeting the acetylcholine receptor alpha-7 (⍺7) in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) region of the brain, the team observed a lasting analgesic effect in mice, even those tolerant to opioids. This finding opens up new possibilities for the development of non-opioid pain medications, potentially revolutionizing pain treatment.
Dopamine and acetylcholine, two hormones crucial for memory and learning, were found to maintain a dynamic balance in the brain, fostering an environment for continuous learning even without external rewards. The study challenges the traditional understanding that rewards trigger dopamine release for learning, revealing that dopamine and acetylcholine levels naturally oscillate in the brain, creating a conducive environment for ongoing learning. These findings could provide insights into neuropsychiatric conditions associated with dopamine imbalances, such as schizophrenia and depression.
Researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine have discovered that learning in the brain occurs through the constant ebb and flow of dopamine and acetylcholine, even in the absence of immediate rewards. These two hormones compete with each other, and rewards were previously thought to promote learning by triggering an increase in dopamine and a decrease in acetylcholine. However, the study found that dopamine and acetylcholine levels naturally fluctuate in the brain, creating favorable conditions for continual learning. The findings challenge the current understanding of how these hormones work together and may provide insights into neuropsychiatric conditions related to dopamine imbalances.