Patricia Inácio, PhD,  science writer—

In a new study entitled “Elevated mitochondrial bioenergetics and axonal arborization size are key contributors to the vulnerability of dopamine neurons” scientists discovered why dopamine producing neurons are particularly vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease. These new findings point towards a key role for mitochondria and these neurons’ high energy requirements…

In a new study entitled “VPS35 in Dopamine Neurons Is Required for Endosome-to-Golgi Retrieval of Lamp2a, a Receptor of Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy That Is Critical for α-Synuclein Degradation and Prevention of Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease” scientists discovered that loss of the VPS35 protein expression in Parkinson’s disease interferes…

In a new study entitled “Identification of neurodegenerative factors using translatome–regulatory network analysis” scientists at Rockefeller University identified two new proteins with key roles in Parkinson’s disease. The study was published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive degenerative disease of…

In a new study entitled “Nuclear receptor Nurr1 agonists enhance its dual functions and improve behavioral deficits in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease” an international team of scientists discovered that anti-malaria drugs chloroquine and amodiaquine are potential therapeutics for Parkinson’s disease. The study was published in…

In a new study entitled “Dopaminergic Modulation of Decision Making and Subjective Well-Being”, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers show that decisions on risk-taking may be influenced by a boost in the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. These findings are in line with previous reports that…