Sleep chemical eases brain disorders
Sleep chemical eases brain disorders
Feel good while yawning as the brain chemical responsible for inducing sleep plays a key role in easing brain disorders, new findings reveal.
The study shows that adenosine, a brain chemical most widely known as the cause of drowsiness, is central to the effect of deep brain stimulation. The technique is used to treat people affected by Parkinson’s disease, severe tremor, and is also being tested in people who have severe depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Patients are equipped with a ”brain pacemaker”, a small implanted device that delivers carefully choreographed electrical signals to a very precise point in the patient’s brain. The procedure disrupts abnormal nerve signals and alleviates symptoms.
The new research published in journal Nature Medicine revealed the electrical effect of the stimulation on neurons was central in bringing the effect of deep brain stimulation.
Adenosine is a byproduct of the chemical ATP, the source of energy for all our cells. Adenosine levels in the brain normally builds as the day wears on, and ultimately plays a role in making us sleepy.
It is the brain’s way of telling us that it’s been a long day, we’ve spent a lot of energy, and it’s time to go to bed.
The role of adenosine in deep brain stimulation was not realised before. Even though scientists recognised its ability to inhibit brain cell signalling, they did not suspect any role as part of DBS’s effect of squelching abnormal brain signalling.
Source :- indianexpress news