Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified a brain circuit involving PACAP-expressing neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus that plays a key role in initiating panic attacks. By inhibiting PACAP signaling in mice, they were able to reduce panic symptoms, paving the way for new treatments for panic disorder. This discovery differentiates panic disorder from other anxiety disorders and could lead to targeted medications. The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, marks a significant step in understanding and potentially treating panic disorder.
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.
Researchers at the Salk Institute have identified a brain circuit involving PACAP-expressing neurons in the parabrachial nucleus that is linked to panic disorder. This discovery suggests new potential targets for treatment, as inhibiting PACAP signaling reduced panic symptoms in a mouse model. The findings, which diverge from traditional treatments focusing on the brain's serotonin system, could lead to more effective panic disorder therapeutics and further understanding of the condition's distinct nature from other anxiety disorders. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Mental Health and the Simons Foundation and will be published in Nature Neuroscience.
