Researchers from the Champalimaud Foundation shed light on the puzzling relationship between dopamine and rest tremor in Parkinson's disease, finding that preserved dopamine in certain brain regions may actually contribute to tremor symptoms, challenging common beliefs.
Champalimaud Centre for the UnknownNov 18 2024 Research ers from the Champalimaud Foundation shed light on the puzzling relationship between dopamine and rest tremor in Parkinson's disease, finding that preserved dopamine in certain brain regions may actually contribute to tremor symptoms, challenging common beliefs.
The dopamine paradox Dopamine loss in brain regions like the putamen, associated with movement regulation, is a well-established hallmark of PD. However, while some patients experience significant tremor relief with dopamine replacement therapies like L-DOPA, others see little to no improvement, or even a worsening of symptoms.
"Wearable motion sensors gave us a clearer, more objective measurement of tremor", says co-first author Pedro Ferreira. "On the surface, patients with and without dopamine loss in the caudate seem similar. However, sensors reveal subtle differences in tremor oscillations that traditional clinical rating scales might miss, and they're relatively easy to use, allowing us to reliably connect symptoms with what's happening in the brain".
One of the most intriguing findings of the study was that the more dopamine was preserved in the caudate on one side of the brain , the more tremor there was on the same side of the body. "This was quite unexpected", says Alves da Silva. "Usually, each side of the brain controls movement on the opposite side of the body".
Tremor Brain Chemical Messenger Dopaminergic Imaging Medicine Nerve Nuclear Medicine Parkinson's Disease Putamen Research
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