the image created no change in dopamine levels.h a picture of someone using cocaine. result-- a marked rise in dopamine. >> volkow: here, in an addictive person, you're starting to get the conditions stimulated... >> safer: just from a photograph. >> volkow: ...from observing. and that's why drugs are so malignant. you see a stimuli, dopamine goes up in your brain, and that, in turn, drives the behavior of the person to try to get the drug. and that's an unconscious thing. it's not even conscious. >> safer: her budget reflects the urgency of the work-- a billion dollars a year for a wide array of research projects. she was the first to demonstrate how cocaine can damage the brain by triggering small strokes. and she's identified a common trait most addicts share involving receptors, the molecules that receive dopamine signals. >> volkow: we're seeing, consistently, a reduction in the levels of these dopamine receptors-- in this case, heroin, alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, but also marijuana and cigarette smokers. >> safer: prob

it turns out there are multiple dopamine pathways in the brain. and in fact, two of them are very important for the anti-psychotic effects of these drugs. let me also mention that the newer generation of compounds of anti-psychotic drugs that have fewer side effects, particularly extra peramital block other receptors too. they block recementer for another neurotransmitter called certificate atone in, very potently. and we think it is this effect that accounts for their improved therapeutic effects and certainly their improved side-effect profile. now you can see that the two main dopamine pathways i have been referring to. one is the mesolimbic pathway which refers to the corticol regions. many of the regions that judy and david have elude odd to that as of schizophrenia. and it is in that pathway we think the anti-psychotic drugs are producing their desirable therapeutic effects. >> the dopamine pathway that begins in a little area of the brain called the substantialia niagara projects to areas of the brain we called was oo gang leah, that is the

the issue here is the fact that the amount of dopamine in the brain is such lower. that we have now is that this scientists have taken the virus, strip virus, put in the gene, responsible to create the enzymes for dopamine, and they're inserting it into the deep part of the brain, which is very, very exciting. over time the enzymes can actually create the hormone called dopamine, again, and that's going to smooth out all their movements, lower the amount of medications they need. you can see for the first time patients like this are able to have these kind of fine movements and be able to write, which is really, really exciting. >> i understand that woman was able to write something for the first time, put pen to paper for the first time in more than a decade. so it really is quite remarkable. how does this compare, doctor, to deep brain stimulation, which we have seen in the past, where electrodes are inserted in a similar area, not the same area of the brain, to try to produce dopamine? >> it's an excellent question. that involves real surgery. it's a little more

dopamine is that chemical that everybody has in their brain.good. it he is a the chemical that is responsible for us being humans. eating, drinking water, having sex, all of that is what keeps humanity together. when you begin to interfere with dopamine molecule, and you basically begin to destroy the number of receptors, because, imagine dopamine is like driving a minivan and you need a parking space. you have to have a ratio of parking pace spaces for a minivan in order for things to work nicely. when you fill, number of parking space, ergo, drugs fill with that, you need more dopamine in your body. that is why chemical dependency becomes so powerful. jamie: before i ask you how we may cure that since we know it is a disease like diabetes -- >> yes. jamie: interesting the genetic predisposition. >> yes. jamie: is it chocolate and drugs and alcohol that are reducing the dopamine and we end up eating more? or are we doing those things because we want dopamine? >> drug abuse is the message of the story. when it comes to obesity and eating and gl

without dopamine parkinson's sufferers often shaky and cannot control the movements. >>> in principle to give patients a better quality of life to their day is less of sundowns today. >>> want to have success scientists began to find a treatment on a smaller number of people doctors say more studies involve hundreds of patients will be needed to prove the treatment is safe and works long term. >>> if you can buy the symptoms and control in some way the deterioration and we can do it has to be better for you and days. >>> she knows it is not a cure but says she feels 10 years younger. >>> dr. kim cbs five help what. >>> other gene therapy experiments are happening here in the u.s. there in the lessening symptoms of improving quality of life for parkinson's patients. >>> a boy's dream comes to life. the cardboard creation inside his dad's auto repair shop that trend is toward greater into a nationwide sensation. i want to have the decade.,,,,,,,,,,,, the boy down any sell a bill to a cardboard arkie in he's become an internet sensation. in the johnson and house some cardboard boxes and

response to drugs or alcohol. >> dopamine is released. that makes me feel good. i'm experienced some pleasure from having this. >> that euphoric effect. >> far be it for people to realize this because sugar is everywhere, but you're saying this is one of the most addictive substances possibly that we have. >> it is certainly is good at firing the reward regions in our brain. >> by scanning hundreds of volunteers, he's learning that people who frequently drink soda or eat ice cream or other sweet food may be building up a tolerance like drug users do. as strange as it sounds, that means the more you eat, the less you feel the reward. the result, you eat more than ever. >> if you overeat these on a regular basis, it causes changes in the brain that basically it wants your rewand region to respond to the food, so you eat more and more to achieve the same satisfaction you felt originally. >> we wanted to hear from the sugar industry, so we visited george simon sugar cane farm in louisiana. >> would it surprise you that every scientist we talk

the shot jump starts the production of dopamine, the chemical needed to fight parkinsons. >> withoutamine, people with parkinsons often shake and can't control their movement. >> in principle, it should give people efficacy of life because of less ups and downs during the day. . >> reporter: researchers spepts years in -- spent years in this cambridge lab. injecting medicine, for example, into the brain. the white that you see there is the brain. >> reporter: once they have success, scientists began trying the treatments on a small number of people. doctors say more studies involving hundreds of patients, will be needed to prove the treatment is safe and works long-term. >> if you can treat the symptoms, and control in some way the deterioration in what you can do, it has to be better for you. and it is. >> reporter: sheila knows it is not a cure, but says she feels 10 years younger. in cambridge, england, monica villa miczar, wjz eyewitness news. >> other gene therapy experiments are happening here in the united states. but the british experiment is the first treatment in the world

it jump starts the chemical dopamine, the chemical patients need to fight parkinsons.hout dopamine, people with parkinsons often shake. >> in principle, it should give patients a better efficacy of life. because of their day. >> researchers spent years in this cambridge lab, toasting -- testing the treatment. injecting animals. >> reporter: once they had success, scientists began trying the treatments on a small number of people. doctors say more studies involving hundreds of patients, will be needed to prove the treatment is safe and works long term. >> if you can treat the symptoms and control in some way, the deterioration in what you can do, it has to be better for you. and it is. >> sheila knows it's not a cure, but says she feels 10 years younger. in cambridge, england, monica villa miczar, wjz eyewitness news. >> other gene therapy experiments are happening here in the u.s. but the british experiment is the first treatment in the world that generates dopamine in the patient's brain. >> all right, vic. don't freak out about this story. >>> a new health warning af

scientists create and inject a virus into the brain, the shot jump starts the production of dopamine, a chemical that patients need to fight parkinson's. without dopamine a shaken cannot control movement. >> it should give them a better quality of life because of less ups and downs during the day. >> once they had success scientists began the treatment on his former of people. doctors say that more studies involving hundreds of patients will be needed to prove the treatment is safe and works long term. >> if you can treat the symptoms, then you control the deterioration and what you can do. it needs to be better, and it is. >> it is not a cure but she feels 10 years younger. >> now, other gene therapy experiments are happening here in the united states aimed at improving symptoms and quality of life, for parkinson's patients. >> it is no way to treat a day area landmark. while partyers did to one of the oldest houses in the bay area? >> it is a getaway friday, still bring the chains, snow in the forecast for tomorrow. and then clear skies, springlike skiing on sunday and monday. homew

this leads to higher levels of dopamine, an organic chemical that controls the brain's reward system. cocaine works in a similar way and has effects ranging from increased alertness, confidence, and euphoria, to paranoia and restlessness. researchers say power has almost the same effects and too much of it can produce too much dopamine, leading to more negative effects such as arrogance and impatience. >>> she eats well, is physically fit, even runs marathons. but a woman in her 30s suffers from a heart condition years of living can't prevent. kris sanchez explains why the condition is harder to catch in women than in men. >> reporter: sandra is the picture of health. she eats right, doesn't smoke, she's run marathons, taught aerobics. >> i thought i was super-human. i used to joke, they're going to have to beat my heart to death with a stick, i'm done everything right. >> reporter: but she was a ticking time book. >> interest went for a run, got a block, had extreme fatigue and mild tingling in my chest. no pain but it was in the middle. when i ran it came on, when i slowed down it w

this starts dopamine. without dopamine, people with parkinson's shake and cannot control their movement. >> the gives patient as better quality of life through their day. because of less ups and downs. >> reporter: researchers spent years testing the treatment in animals fist including mice interjecting medicine, for example, into the brain. the white object is the brain. once they have success, sciences began trying to treatments on a small number of people. doctors are saying more studies involving hundreds of patients will be needed to prove that the treatment is safe. >> if you can see the systems and in some way the deterioration -- it has to be better for you. it is. >> reporter: it is not a cure, but shelia feels ten years younger. >> other gene therapy experiments are happening right here in the united states. but the british experiment is the first treatment in the world that generates dopamine in a patient's brain. >>> the ravens came one game short of the super bowl last season. if they want to

the shot delivers the enzymes responsible for producing dopamine directly into the brain.he tremors and other movement disorders of parkinson's happen when the cells that make dopamine are destroyed. this replaces it. the prosabin treatment has only been tried on 14 people around the world, but early results are positive. >> it should give patients a better quality of life through their day because of less ups and downs through the day. >> i can see a glimmer of person i used to be now, which is really exciting. >> doctors need more studies involving hundreds of patients to prove the treatment is safe and works long term. >>> april, autism awareness month and we've been talking a lot about the higher incidence of this developmental disorder and how important early diagnosis is. today we're profiling a special coach who focuses on improving these kids' physical skills with some pretty amazing results. >> dealing with autism there can be a lot of anxiety. he really is somebody who has been able to break through that barrier. >> reporter: performing what many parents describe

so dopamine is released. that sort of makes me feel good.xperiencing some pleasure from having this coke. >> stice: right, that euphoric effect. >> gupta: so, far be it for people to realize this, because sugar is everywhere, but you're saying this is one of the most addictive substances possibly that we have? >> stice: it certainly is very good at firing the reward regions in our brain. >> gupta: eric stice says, by scanning hundreds of volunteers, he's learned that people who frequently drink sodas or eat ice cream or other sweet foods may be building up a tolerance, much like drug users do. as strange as it sounds, that means the more you eat, the less you feel the reward. the result-- you eat more than ever. >> stice: if you overeat these on a regular basis, it causes changes in the brain that basically it blunts your reward region response to the food, so then you eat more and more to achieve the same satisfaction you felt originally. >> gupta: with all this new science emerging, we wanted to hear from the sugar industry, so we visited

form of addiction because it causes to you crave it because it leads to an increased hormone called dopaminen corn syrup. we hide it in processed sugar and the sweets we eat. then it gets into the body and the liver convert its into ldl cholesterol and you get heart attacks and strokes, you get obese. you get diabetes. all the problems i treat in the office, i don't want more patients, but i get them because of sugar. >> it's hidden. you have to look at ingredients in cereal and things. >> cereal, big culprit. >> it's true. we are taking 130 pounds, 130 pounds of sugar a year. that's ridiculous. we're taking a lot of it. as mark mentioned, when you have a load of sugar coming in, the level of insulin goes up. there are insulin receptors that cause increase in colon and breast cancer in growth factors. and there is the reward system in our brain that gives you that euphoria. you crave more. the more you take, you want more. that's really dangerous. and increase in cholesterol and heart disease. the recommendation by american heart disease is that men should have less than 100 cal rears a day

that white roll you're eating, actually loaded with sugar and it increases dopamine in your body. over time you become addicted to that sugar and it makes you happy to have it. by eating that sandwich every now and again or a hamburger from the fast food place you're going to get a natural drug addicted-like state and that's why he's feeling that. jenna: ooh, all right. he likes hamburgers. we're going to have to leave it there, mira. sugar is a major theme of our show today. it's something we are taking a closer look at and we will be talking about it in a few other segments. we thank you very much for this. naked calories, that seems to be the way to go. jon: nothing but carrots and veggies for lunch from now on. jenna: and maybe a burger once in a while. every once in a while. jon: everything in moderation. mega millions mania may be over. everybody is wondering who won all the money? in one tiny town in illinois it is the talk of the town where one of the three winning tickets was sold. jenna: a teen in colorado may have found a way to make an invite to the prom more memorable

neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine.salty foods, sweet foods and foods that have chemicals designed to make them delicious, like msg, really trigger the release of these feel-good hormones. the problem is it's a quick release and then you get a crash afterwards. it's not a sustained nutritious effort that makes our brains feel this way. >> what can we do? what is the anti-junk food in this case, then? >> there are foods linked with maintaining good mood or even preventing depression. pretty much anything that you would find in the mediterranean diet. so, things rich in omega-3 fatty acid, good fish like salmon and mackerel. thing high in antioxidant, any colorful fruit or vegetable and sellen yum has been shown to ward off depression. you find selenium in beans and nuts. >> dr. holly phillips, we appreciate it. thank you. >>> for more on the potential pitfalls of unhealthy food, go to our partner in health webmd.com and search junk food. >>> coming up next, it's been studied why women make better leaders in the work plac

previous research that when this chemical gets into our brains, it reacts with a chemical called dopaminend forms another chemical that looks like cocaine. so we did a whole series of studies. we showed two things that are important. the first is that acetaldehyde does enhance the effect of nicotine. it makes it more addictive. equally important, acetaldehyde by itself is an addictive drug. so now you have two things in cigarettes and tobacco smoke that are causing addiction. not one, and that was a very critical finding for the company. they asked us to figure out how much levels of nicotine and acetaldehyde the rats liked. the bottom line is we came up with that rats liked a little more acetaldehyde than they did nicotine. we can't prove this. i can only tell you what the data suggests. the retro- engineer of marlborough. he figured out acetaldehyde in 1982. in 1983, philip morris began adding sugar to the marlborough cigarette. if you look at the history of marlborough, sugar went up about 26%, the acetaldehyde when up at by 40%. it wasn't until 1996 that marlborough became the best se