Waking up dormant dopaminergic neurons to reverse Parkinson's disease (Reverse early Parkinson’s)

Institute for Basic Science ^ | January 9, 2020 | Many

[ConservativeMind]

As many as seven to 10 million people in the world are thought to live with Parkinson's disease (PD). Current medical treatments for PD rely on alleviating PD symptoms with little efforts to explore ways to reverse the symptoms.

It is firmly believed that abnormal movements of PD begin in the brain where the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter for movement control, is irreversibly impaired. Currently, L-DOPA, a potent PD medication is mainly prescribed to replenish dopamine in the deprived brain. However, such treatment is symptomatic, not disease-modifying therapy.

The researchers reported that the symptoms of PD begin when dopaminergic neurons are "non-functional," even before they die off. Though the neuronal death had been until now believed to be the obvious cause of PD, the study found that the movement abnormalities of PD begin in the earlier stage when dopaminergic neurons, though being alive, cannot synthesize dopamine (in a dormant state).

"Everyone has been so trapped in the conventional idea of the neuronal death as the single cause of PD.” Lee adds, "The neuronal death ruled out any possibility to reverse PD. Since dormant neurons can be awakened to resume their production capability, this finding will allow us to give PD patients hope to live a new life without PD."

The researchers observed when the number of astrocytes abnormally increases due to the destruction of nearby neurons, GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter is released in the brain in an excessive amount. This excessive output of GABA suppresses dopaminergic neurons, putting the production of dopamine on a hold. Notably, they confirmed that the dormant dopaminergic neurons are alive. Furthermore, they revealed that these neurons could be awakened by treatment with MAO-B inhibitors, which block astrocytic GABA synthesis. The awakening of dormant dopaminergic neurons leads to a significant alleviation of PD motor symptoms.

[ConservativeMind]

Early Parkinson’s is easily reversed. Here’s the money quote:

“Notably, they confirmed that the dormant dopaminergic neurons are alive with the existence of DOPA decarboxylase. Furthermore, they revealed that these neurons could be awakened by treatment with MAO-B inhibitors, which block astrocytic GABA synthesis. The awakening of dormant dopaminergic neurons leads to a significant alleviation of PD motor symptoms.”

[TChad]

Sounds good. When do clinical trials start?

[hinckley buzzard]

We shall see. Too many times we see excited press releases about the latest new miracle treatment for entrenched progressive illnesses. Now it’s PD”s turn. Next month it will be MS. After that, Alzheimer’s. And so on.

But in a year from now nothing will have changed, and the cycle will start over. I treat people with all these conditions, so I am ever hopeful for some breakthrough. But after years of this, I am not holding my breath.

[dp0622]

MAO-B.

I took an MAO inhibitor as an antidepressant after a head injury. It came with a list of foods and drink that you couldn’t have or you could stroke out.

Odd thing giving a supposedly depressed person an easy way to kill themselves :)

I also take Wellbutrin. I took it for the same reason but the BONUS was that pleasurable sensations returned after being lost for about 5 years.

It is a dopamine reuptake inhibitor.

When I stop it, the enjoyment of food and other thing stops.

I wonder if aside from the treatment here, dopamine re uptake inhibitors would help Parkinson’s’ patients.

I know all Dopamine receptors aren’t alike though.

Amazing how many things Dopamine is important for.

[An American in Turkiye]

Wait, I take GABA every evening to help sleep. It works wonders. Are they saying GABA is responsible for Parkinson’s?

[Getready]

People are already taking mao b inhibitors for parkinsons...selegiline and rasagiline. When they catch parkinsons early and stop destruction of neurons early...that will be great.

[thinden]

Bttt

[Bob434]

i sure hope they lick alzheimer’s and perhaps other mental conditions too- terrible terrible condition- very sad to watch folks go through it knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it

[Bob434]

not sure but it sounds to me like gaba simply suppresses dopamine nuerons, which in turn suppresses the production of dopamine- i think in parkinsons, the neurons are dead- so they can’t uptake dopamine- or produce it- whichever it is-

I don’t think simple suppression of neurons leads to death of neurons, but I’m not sure-

But you might wanna look into GABA just to be sure it doesn’t or can’t cause parkinson’s-