This is more of an academic than a personal type of question.
Alzheimer's is linked to a deficiency of acetylcholine and Parkinson's is linked to a deficiency of dopamine. However, acetylcholine is linked to muscle contractions and dopamine is linked to mood and memory.
Shouldn't Alzheimer's be linked to dopamine deficiency and Parkinson's to acetylcholine (hence the muscular tremors, etc.)? Why is it that way and not the more logical way?
Alzheimer's is linked to a deficiency of acetylcholine and Parkinson's is linked to a deficiency of dopamine. However, acetylcholine is linked to muscle contractions and dopamine is linked to mood and memory.
Shouldn't Alzheimer's be linked to dopamine deficiency and Parkinson's to acetylcholine (hence the muscular tremors, etc.)? Why is it that way and not the more logical way?
-
No.
Alzheimer's starts with amyloid plaque build up killing neurons in the memory centers in the brain, followed by dementia - a degeneration of cortical areas which predominantly use acetylcholine - hence less acetylcholine overall.
Parkinson's starts with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra which play a large role in movement and reward.
Peripherally, you use acetylcholine, but in the brain things change, and then change again, and then change again.
Alzheimer's starts with amyloid plaque build up killing neurons in the memory centers in the brain, followed by dementia - a degeneration of cortical areas which predominantly use acetylcholine - hence less acetylcholine overall.
Parkinson's starts with degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra which play a large role in movement and reward.
Peripherally, you use acetylcholine, but in the brain things change, and then change again, and then change again.
-
Dopamine dampens (inhibits) random muscle activity.
Apparently there's a lot of such random activity,
and dampening it is part of muscle control.
Apparently there's a lot of such random activity,
and dampening it is part of muscle control.