Scientists have discovered a molecule that can help treat Parkinson's

Researchers at Oregon Health and Science University found that the neurotransmitter adenosine effectively inhibited dopamine, another well-known neurotransmitter
involved in motor control.

Scientists have found that adenosine works in a push-pull way with dopamine in the brain; This finding was published today in the journal Nature.

"There are two neural circuits: one that helps promote behavior and the other that inhibits behavior," said
senior author Dr.
Haining Zhong, a scientist at the OHSU Vollum Institute.
Dopamine promotes the first circuit and makes movement possible, while adenosine acts as a 'brake' that promotes the second circuit, bringing balance
to the system.
”

The discovery could immediately provide a new avenue
for drug development to treat Parkinson's.
Parkinson's is a movement disorder, and the loss of dopamine-producing cells is widely thought to be one of
the causes.

Scientists have long suspected that dopamine is affected
by the opposite dynamics of neuronal signaling in the striatum.
The striatum is a key area
of the brain that regulates movements such as reward, motivation, and learning.
The striatum is also the main brain region
in Parkinson's affected by the loss of dopamine-producing cells.

"For a long time, people suspected that there was such a push-pull system," said co-author Dr.
Mao Tianyi, who is married to Dr.
Zhong Haining
.

In the new study, the researchers clearly revealed for the first time that adenosine is a neurotransmitter
that acts as opposed to dopamine.
The study, involving mice, used a new genetically engineered protein probe recently developed by Zhong and Mao's lab
.
An example of the technology was published last month in the journal Nature Methods
.

Notably, adenosine is also a well-known receptor
for caffeine action.

"Coffee acts on our brain through the same receptors, and drinking coffee can lift the inhibitory effect
of adenosine.
"