Downturn in Dopaminergic Neurons Affects Hippocampus, Indicative of Alzheimer's
News Mar 28, 2018 | Original Story from The University of Sheffield

- Sheffield scientists discover a loss of cells that use dopamine may cause part of the brain - responsible for forming new memories - to function less effectively
- Findings could revolutionise screening for Alzheimer’s disease which affects more than 520,000 people in the UK
- First study to demonstrate such a link in humans
Scientists from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre at the University of Sheffield have discovered a loss of cells that use dopamine – a neurotransmitter that has a number of functions including regulating movement and emotional responses – may cause the part of the brain responsible for forming new memories to function less effectively.
The findings could revolutionise screening for the early signs of Alzheimer’s disease – which affects more than 520,000 people in the UK – changing the way brain scans are acquired and interpreted as well as using different memory tests.
Lead author of the study, Professor Annalena Venneri, from the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN) at the University of Sheffield, said: “Our findings suggest that if a small area of brain cells, called the ventral tegmental area, does not produce the right amount of dopamine for the hippocampus, a small organ located within the brain’s temporal lobe, it will not work efficiently.
“The hippocampus is associated with forming new memories, therefore these findings are crucial to the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The results point at a change which happens very early on, which might trigger Alzheimer’s disease.
“This is the first study to demonstrate such a link in humans.”
Professor Venneri and fellow lead author Dr Matteo De Marco acquired 3Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans on 51 healthy adults, 30 patients with a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, and 29 patients with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. 3Tesla MRIs are twice the normal strength of normal MRI scans generating the highest quality images.
The results showed a key link between the size and function of the ventral tegmental area, the size of the hippocampus and the ability to learn new material.
“More studies are necessary, but these findings could potentially lead to a new way of screening the elderly population for early signs of Alzheimer’s disease, changing the way brain scans are acquired and interpreted and using different memory tests,” said Professor Venneri who is also an Honorary Consultant at Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
“Another possible benefit is that it might lead to a different treatment option with the potential to change or halt the course of the disease very early, before major symptoms manifest.
“We now want to establish how early alterations in the ventral tegmental area can be seen and also test whether these alterations can be counteracted with treatments already available.”
This article has been republished from materials provided by The University of Sheffield. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.
RELATED ARTICLES
Neural Computer Hears Like Humans
NewsModelling the human senses is an incredibly complex task. Our brains arrange cells into complex hierarchies that process information from our surroundings. Now, a group at MIT have created a model of the human auditory cortex that can hear sounds and music in the same way that humans do.
READ MORENew Microscope Captures Detailed 3-D Movies of Cells Deep Within Living Systems
NewsMerging lattice light sheet microscopy with adaptive optics reveals the most detailed picture yet of subcellular dynamics in multicellular organisms.
READ MOREStable Beta-Amyloid Dimers Identified in Alzheimer’s Brains
NewsA recent study exploited state-of-the-art mass spectrometry to provide the first direct evidence of beta-amyloid dimers in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and points to the potential of these molecules as biomarkers. Beta-amyloid dimers may be the smallest pathological species that trigger Alzheimer’s disease.
Comments | 0 ADD COMMENT
Like what you just read? You can find similar content on the communities below.
NeuroscienceTo personalize the content you see on Technology Networks homepage, Log In or Subscribe for Free
LOGIN SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE
Login
You must be logged in to post a comment.