Dopamine Therapy Could Boomerang Because Of Overdose In One Brain Region

The dopamine replacement therapy, used in treatment of Parkinson’s disease, is known to adversely affect cognition in some cases. Rsearchers explain why.

The dopamine replacement therapy could boomerang because of overdose in one brain region, researchers say.

The therapy, used to manage motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, is known to adversely affect cognition in some cases. Now Canadian researchers have been able to come up with a convincing explanation for the paradox.

Parkinson’s Disease - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease caused by progressive dopamine brain cells loss. Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are correctable to an extent.

Dopamine depletion in the striatum part of the brain is a characteristic of the Parkinson’s disease. For reasons that remain unknown, the cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that relays signals to the striatum, die. Since dopamine controls movement, the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease gradually begin to appear.

Motor symptoms manifest as tremor, rigidity and akinesia (inability to perform certain simple voluntary movements). Symptoms can also affect cognition and mood and may even lead to depression.

But the impact of Parkinson’s on the striatum is uneven. As it happens, the striatum is divided into several structures, and the dorsal striatum is more severely affected than the ventral part. The latter remains relatively unaffected, at least during the first phases of the disease.

What apparently happens is that while dopamine replacement therapy does enhances the functions of the dorsal striatum, it does so at the expense of the ventral striatum which suffers a dopamine overdose, impairing its function.

Dr. Oury Monchi, Ph. D. in neuronal modeling and Head of the Neurophysiological and Neuroimaging Research theme at the Centre de recherche de l’Institut universitaire de gériatrie de Montréal (IUGM), which is affiliated with the Université de Montréal, and Dr. Penny A. MacDonald, Neurologist and postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Monchi’s laboratory, conducted a series of laboratory tests and neuroimaging studies to study the effect of the dopamine therapy.

The imaging enabled the researchers to clearly define the distinct cognitive functions performed by the dorsal and ventral striatum, thereby shedding some light on the issue.

Twenty two Parkinson’s disease patients without dementia and twenty two healthy individuals were included in the first part of the study (behavioural), while thirteen healthy young adults participated in the second part of the study (neuroimaging). Each participant was asked to repeatedly choose numbers (288 times) such as selecting the higher of two numbers, for example. On some occasions, patients were given no reinforcement, while on other occasions, they were influenced by various cues that made it easier to answer (a function usually associated with the dorsal striatum), or more difficult to answer due to interference (associated with the ventral striatum). Parkinson’s patients were tested on or off medication. Selection was validated with functional magnetic resonance imaging which was used to observe cerebral activity during the exercises. Results demonstrated that while dopamine replacement enhances results for conditions associated with interference (dorsal striatum), it reduces results for conditions associated with facilitation (ventral striatum).

“The best treatment option for managing the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease remains dopamine replacement therapy. In some patients however, it can have a negative effect on specific aspects of cognition. Our discovery will therefore enable us to explore different medication and non-medication based avenues that could help improve the overall health of those affected. Our findings may contribute to helping develop personalized medicine – an avenue that is currently commanding a great deal of attention”, exclaims Dr. MacDonald. The findings have been published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology.

Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. Onset usually begins between the ages of 45 and 70 years.

According to Health Canada, it is estimated that 1 in 100 Canadians over age 60 are diagnosed with this condition. The direct and indirect costs associated with Parkinson’s disease exceed $450 million a year.

Source-Medindia