Hormone ghrelin can be used to slow the development of Parkinson's disease

Ghrelin - a hormone produced in the stomach, can be used's to generate stability or slow the development of chronic neurodegenerative diseases - Parkinson's disease, say U.S. researchers from Yale University.

Parkinson's disease is caused by the destruction of cells producing dopamine in the central nervous system. Decline of dopamine in the later stages of the disease causes severe symptoms such as difficulty walking, limitation of mobility, the delay of movement, lack of appetite, problems with a meal periods of complete immobility, tremor in limbs and head. As the destruction and loss of dopamine cells, Parkinson's disease progresses.

The study's author Tamas Horvath, together with colleagues, found that the gastric hormone ghrelin exerts a protective effect on neurons that produce dopamine. It was established that, in addition, that ghrelin affects appetite, he is also responsible for direct activation of brain cells responsible for producing dopamine. Because ghrelin is produced in the stomach, it circulates throughout the body, so it can easily be used to increase resistance to Parkinson's disease or slowing its development, say scientists.

The study was conducted on mice that received supplements ghrelin, as well as in mice that have a shortage of ghrelin. In comparison with the control group, mice that have been broken to develop ghrelin, have lost more dopamine. Experts believe that the results can not hesitate to attribute to the men, too, as the system of ghrelin in different species is very similar.