Skip to main content

Fight-Or-Flight Neurotransmitter Octopamine’s Role in Neurodegeneration

This shows a brainOctopamine, the major neurotransmitter responsible for the "fight-or-flight" response in invertebrates, can communicate with mammalian brain cells to prevent cell death. By introducing octopamine to cultures of astrocytes, the scientists found that it prompts the production of lactate, which promotes cell survival, and this discovery could lead to future therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. The study also raises questions about the role of octopamine in healthy brains and its impact on learning, memory, and aging.

from Neuroscience News https://ift.tt/KkqXu1T

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

More Evidence that Patient Portals Improve Patient Care

Of all the medical specialties, neurologists see some of the most complex patients. This idea bears out anecdotally among the neurologists we have interviewed here at Neurology Insights but also statistically. In this 2018 study published in JAMA , neurologists were ranked #3 among physician types for patient complexity as well as for their number of comorbidities (Nephrologists were ranked #1, if you must know). Not surprisingly, among the comorbidities they listed: diabetes . In addition to the neurological sequelae associated with diabetes, this complex and chronic condition often requires well-coordinated care involving repeated testing and care by other providers. A new study published last month (June, 2019) in the journal PlosOne , shows that all this can be improved when these complex patients have access to a patient portal . “A patient portal is a secure online website that gives patients convenient, 24-hour access to personal health information from anywhere with an Inte...