Inhibiting Opioid Receptors Could Potentially Restore Normal Dopamine Levels
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have discovered a potential new method for treating brain disorders associated with dopamine imbalances. The team found that a drug which blocks kappa opioid receptors (KOR) could help correct these imbalances, particularly in conditions like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and autism.
In a mouse model with a rare mutation causing abnormal dopamine leakage, KOR blockers reduced this leakage and restored normal behavior. This finding offers a new pathway for treating multiple brain disorders linked to disrupted dopamine signaling.
Current treatments for dopamine-related conditions often use agents that either block or enhance dopamine signaling, such as stimulants for ADHD. These treatments can have unwanted side effects or lead to addiction. The researchers believe KOR blockers could provide a safer alternative.
The treatment did not affect animals without the mutation, suggesting targeted therapeutic potential with fewer side effects.
Dopamine, a neurotransmitter essential for regulating various brain functions, including movement, mood, motivation, and cognition, is subject to complex regulatory mechanisms. Disruptions in dopamine signaling have been linked to several neuropsychiatric disorders.
The study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, found that blocking KOR can decrease dopamine transporter leakage in mice with the DAT Val559 mutation, reversing cognitive and compulsive symptoms without affecting healthy animals.
Based on the study's findings, the team believes that KOR blockers could help fix issues related to altered dopamine signaling, at least in mice. If the results translate to humans, individuals with ADHD, bipolar disorder, or autism could benefit from better treatment options than what is currently available.
The researchers noted that further work is needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of KOR blockers in treating these disorders.
This work was supported by several grants, including the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Mental Health and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
- This new treatment method for brain disorders associated with dopamine imbalances, discovered by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, targets kappa opioid receptors (KOR).
- The study, published in Molecular Psychiatry, indicates that blocking KOR can decrease dopamine transporter leakage in mice with the DAT Val559 mutation.
- This potential new therapy could help correct dopamine imbalances in conditions such as ADHD, bipolar disorder, and autism, according to the researchers.
- The treatment did not affect animals without the mutation, suggesting a targeted therapeutic potential with fewer side effects.
- Current treatments for dopamine-related conditions often have unwanted side effects or lead to addiction, as they use agents that either block or enhance dopamine signaling.
- The complex regulatory mechanisms of dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for regulating various brain functions like movement, mood, motivation, and cognition, are disrupted in several neuropsychiatric disorders.
- If the results from this study translate to humans, individuals with ADHD, bipolar disorder, or autism could benefit from improved treatment options and better health-and-wellness outcomes.
- The efficacy and safety of KOR blockers in treating these disorders require further research and understanding, as acknowledged by the study's authors.
- The National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Mental Health and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation provided funding for this work in the field of neuroscience, contributing to advancements in mental-health, therapies-and-treatments, and neurological-disorders research.
