All articles tagged with #brain pathway
Scientists have discovered that metformin, a widely used diabetes drug, works through a brain pathway involving the ventromedial hypothalamus and a protein called Rap1, revealing new insights into its mechanism and potential effects on appetite, weight, and cognition. More research is needed, but these findings could lead to improved treatments for diabetes and other neurological conditions.
Researchers have discovered that metformin, a common diabetes drug, also acts in the brain, specifically in the ventromedial hypothalamus, by turning off the protein Rap1, which is essential for its blood sugar-lowering effects. This finding suggests new avenues for more targeted diabetes treatments and highlights the brain's role in metformin's mechanism of action.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have mapped the complete neural pathway responsible for sensing cool temperatures from skin to brain, revealing a spinal cord amplifier and providing insights that could lead to improved treatments for temperature-related pain and sensory disorders.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology Reports reveals the potential of delta opioid receptors to alleviate anxiety through the activation of a specific brain pathway. The selective DOP agonist, KNT-127, was found to reduce anxiety-like behavior in mice, offering promise for developing new treatments for anxiety-related disorders. The study's methodology, anchored in optogenetics, targeted a neural pathway from the prelimbic cortex to the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala, critical areas associated with emotion regulation and anxiety development. The findings underscore the pivotal role of this brain circuit in regulating innate anxiety and demonstrate the potential of DOP agonists, like KNT-127, in alleviating anxiety.
Researchers have discovered a direct connection between the cerebellum and the basal ganglia, altering our understanding of movement and reward processing in the brain. This finding has implications for addiction, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders, potentially leading to new therapeutic interventions. The cerebellum's role in modulating dopamine levels in the basal ganglia affects both movement initiation and reward-based behavior learning, offering new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying these conditions.
Researchers have discovered a signaling impairment in the brain pathway of individuals addicted to cocaine or heroin, offering a potential target for addiction treatment. Using diffusion MRI tractography, they found microstructural disruptions in the prefrontal cortex-habenula pathway, which is responsible for regulating executive functions and reward-associated learning. The study also highlighted the importance of early intervention. The team is exploring therapies like transcranial direct current stimulation and assessing biomarkers to develop effective treatment strategies.