dopamine

Researchers report that a dopamine circuit connects the body's circadian rhythms with wakefulness, offering a mechanistic link between the internal biological clock and the brain systems that control arousal. The finding could help explain why sleep-wake timing is so tightly tied to daily cycles and may inform future approaches to sleep and circadian-related disorders.

Researchers have developed a carbon paste electrode, modified with an azo dye, that can simultaneously detect paracetamol, dopamine and uric acid. The finding is drawing attention as the term paracetamol trends in Germany. Such sensors could simplify biochemical testing, since these three compounds often need to be measured together in medical and research settings.

Scientists conducted brain scans on 24 people with long COVID and found signs of injury to dopamine neurons. The discovery may help explain some of the illness's most debilitating symptoms, including fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Researchers say the findings offer a biological marker for a condition that has often lacked clear physical evidence, potentially guiding future diagnosis and treatment of long COVID.