![Acetylcholine
Anticholinergic drugs are used to treat a
variety of conditions:
Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., gastritis, diarrhea,
diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, nausea, and
vomiting)
Genitourinary disorders (e.g., cystitis, urethritis,
prostatitis)
Respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma, chronic
bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease [COPD])
Insomnia, although usually only on a short-term
basis.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/neuropsychobiology-serotonin-171023192325/75/Neuropsychobiology-Understanding-the-Chemicals-that-Cause-Moods-29-2048.jpg)
Neuropsychobiology: Understanding the Chemicals that Cause Moods
The document discusses several key neurotransmitters: dopamine, GABA, serotonin, and acetylcholine. For each one, it outlines their mechanism of action, where they are found in the body, symptoms of excess and insufficiency, nutritional building blocks, common medications, and how levels may change with age. The document provides a high-level overview of several major neurotransmitters in the brain and nervous system.
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Overview of neurobiology, key neurotransmitters: dopamine, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine.
Dopamine functions: movement, mood, learning. Discuss symptoms of excess/insufficiency, nutritional needs, and medications.
Glutamate as an excitatory neurotransmitter, its role in learning/memory and effects of excess/insufficiency.
GABA's action as an anti-anxiety agent, symptoms of excess and deficiency, nutritional sources, and medications.
Serotonin regulates mood and bodily functions, addressing symptoms of excess/insufficiency, dietary sources, and age-related decline.
Acetylcholine's role in memory and cognition, symptoms of excess/insufficiency, nutritional requirements, and usage of medications.
Variety of neurotransmitters affect addiction and mental health; importance of balance and nutrition.
Cites various studies and articles related to neurotransmitters and their effects.
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Neuropsychobiology: Understanding the Chemicals that Cause Moods
- 1. Neurobiology: Dopamine, GABA, Serotonin, Acetylcholine Dr.Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSP, LMHC Executive Director, AllCEUs.com
- 2. Objectives Define Neurobiology For the following neurotransmitters, Dopamine, GABA, Serotonin, Acetylcholine, identify Their mechanism of action/purpose Where they are found Symptoms of excess & insufficiency Nutritional building blocks Medications Neurological changes over the lifespan
- 3. What is Neurobiology Neurobiology is the study of the brain and nervous system which generate sensation, perception, movement, learning, emotion, and many of the functions that make us human
- 4. Dopamine Mechanism ofaction/purpose Movement Memory Pleasurable reward Behavior and cognition Attention Sleep Mood Learning
- 5. Dopamine Mechanisms ofAction Precursor, L-DOPA is synthesized in brain and kidneys Dopamine functions in several parts of the peripheral nervous system In blood vessels, it inhibits norepinephrine release and acts as a vasodilator (relaxation) In the pancreas, it reduces insulin production In the digestive system, it reduces gastrointestinal motility and protects intestinal mucosa In the immune system, it reduces lymphocyte activity.
- 6. Dopamine Symptoms ofexcess Unnecessary movements, repetitive tics Psychosis Hypersexuality Nausea Most antipsychotic drugs are dopamine antagonists Dopamine antagonist drugs are also some of the most effective anti-nausea agents
- 7. Dopamine Symptoms ofinsufficiency Insufficient dopamine Negative symptoms of schizophrenia Pain Parkinson’s Disease Restless legs syndrome Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Neurological symptoms that increase in frequency with age, such as decreased arm swing and increased rigidity. Changes in dopamine levels may also cause age-related changes in cognitive flexibility.
- 8. Dopamine Symptoms ofexcess & insufficiency Insufficient dopamine Lack of motivation Fatigue Apathy, Inability to feel pleasure Procrastination Low libido Sleep problems Mood swings Hopelessness Memory loss Inability to concentrate
- 9. Dopamine: Age RelatedChanges Dopamine levels decline by around 10% per decade from early adulthood and have been associated with declines in cognitive and motor performance Dopamine levels are also impacted by availability of estrogen https://www.ncbi .nlm.nih.gov/pmc /articles/PMC259 6698/
- 10. Dopamine Nutritional buildingblocks Eating a diet high in magnesium and tyrosine rich foods will ensure you’ve got the basic building blocks needed for dopamine production. Here’s a list of foods known to increase dopamine: Chicken Almonds Apples Avocado Bananas Beets Chocolate Green leafy vegetables Green tea Lima beans Oatmeal Sesame & pumpkin seeds Turmeric Watermelon Wheat germ
- 11. Dopamine Medications Mostcommon dopamine antagonists (positive symptoms) Risperdone, Haldol, Zyprexa Metoclopramide (Reglan) is an antiemetic and antipsychotic Most common dopamine AGONISTs (Parkinson’s, Restless Legs) (negative symptoms) Mirapex & Requip Excess: Unnecessary movements, repetitive tics, Psychosis, Hypersexuality Nausea Insufficiency: Depression
- 12. Glutamate Is anamino acid (present in most high protein foods) Most prevalent excitatory neurotransmitter Used to make GABA (teeter-totter) Facilitates learning and memory Excess glutamate is associated with Panic attacks / anxiety Impulsivity OCD Depression Chang L, Jiang CS, Ernst T (January 2009). "Effects of age and sex on brain glutamate and other metabolites". Magn Reson Imaging. 27 (1): 142–5.
- 13. Glutamate Availability declineswith age Affected by serotonin availability Insufficient Agitation Memory loss Sleeplessness Low energy level Depression
- 14. GABA Mechanism ofaction/purpose Anti-anxiety, Anti-convulsant GABA is made from glutamate GABA functions as an inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA does the opposite and tells the adjoining cells not to “fire” Where is it found Close to 40% of the synapses in the human brain work with GABA and therefore have GABA receptors.
- 15. GABA Symptoms ofexcess Excess sleepiness Shallow breathing *Increased blood pressure Symptoms of insufficiency Anxiety Depression Difficulty concentrating Insomnia Seizure disorders
- 16. GABA Nutritional buildingblocks Fermented foods sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir Almonds & walnuts Cherry tomatoes Bananas Brown rice Potatoes Oats Lentils, navy & lima beans Vitamin B6, if deficient, may impair the production of GABA as it is a cofactor nutrient.
- 17. GABA Medications Drugsthat increase the available amount of GABA typically have relaxing, anti-anxiety, and anti- convulsive effect Gabapentin (neurontin) is a GABA analogue used to treat epilepsy and neurologic pain. Benzodiazepines and Barbiturates including GHB, Valium, Xanax
- 18. Serotonin Mechanism ofaction/purpose Helps regulate Mood Cardiovascular functioning Memory Intestinal motility Sleep patterns Appetite Pain
- 19. Serotonin Where isit found Brain Gut/Intestines Symptoms of excess (Serotonin Syndrome) Shivering Diarrhea Muscle rigity Fever Seizures Irregular heartbeat
- 20. Serotonin Symptoms ofexcess Depression Apathy, Emotional flatness or dullness Passivity Insomnia and other sleep problems Difficulty concentrating and learning Poor memory; amnesia Difficulty making decisions and acting on them Sexual dysfunction
- 21. Serotonin Insufficiency Depression Anxiety Pain sensitivity Appetite disturbance Sleep disturbances
- 22. Serotonin Nutritional buildingblocks Foods rich in tryptophan, an amino acid that converts to serotonin in the brain. Whole-wheat Potatoes Brown rice Lentils Oats Beans
- 23. Serotonin Medications SSRIs SNRIs 5-HTP SAM-e
- 24. Serotonin Age RelatedChanges Serotonin goes down when estrogen or testosterone go down (Dr. Jacques Lorrain. (1994) Comprehensive Management of Menopause) Melatonin doesn’t decline as we age, unless serotonin declines significantly https://www.web md.com/healthy- aging/news/19991 105/melatonin- levels-dont- decline-with- age#1
- 25. Acetylcholine Mechanism ofaction/purpose In lower amounts, ACh can act like a stimulant by releasing norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) Memory Motivation Higher-order thought processes Sexual desire and activity Sleep
- 26. Acetylcholine Symptoms ofexcess Depression (all symptoms) Nightmares Mental Fatigue Anxiety Inverse relationship between serotonin and acetylcholine
- 27. Acetylcholine Insufficiency Alzheimer’s/dementia Parkinson’s Impaired cognition, attention, and arousal
- 28. Acetylcholine Nutritional buildingblocks Foods high in choline Meats Dairy Poultry Chocolate Peanut butter Wheat germ Brussels sprouts and broccoli
- 29. Acetylcholine Anticholinergic drugsare used to treat a variety of conditions: Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., gastritis, diarrhea, diverticulitis, ulcerative colitis, nausea, and vomiting) Genitourinary disorders (e.g., cystitis, urethritis, prostatitis) Respiratory disorders (e.g., asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]) Insomnia, although usually only on a short-term basis.
- 30. Acetylcholine Medications Anticholinergics Atropine Benzatropine(Cogentin) Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Sominex, Advil PM, Unisom) Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) Bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin) Dextromethorphan - Cough suppressant Alzheimer’s/dementia Parkinson’s Impaired cognition, attention, and arousal
- 31. Summary There area variety of different neurotransmitters involved in addiction and mental health disorders It is not always about increasing a neurotransmitter. Sometimes you need to decrease it or increase another neurotransmitter to facilitate it. Human brains try to maintain homeostasis and too much or too little can be bad A balanced diet will provide the brain the necessary nutrients in synergystic combinations
- 32. References Res NursHealth. 2014 Jun;37(3):185-93. doi: 10.1002/nur.21595. Epub 2014 Apr 3. Neurobehavioral effects of aspartame consumption.Lindseth GN1, Coolahan SE, Petros TV, Lindseth PD. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/could-diet- soda-cause-clinical-depression-586801/?no-ist Understanding our Bodies: Dopamine and Its Rewards http://nutritionwonderland.com/2009/07/understanding- our-bodies-dopamine-rewards/ http://nutritionwonderland.com/2009/06/understanding- bodies-serotonin-connection-between-food-and-mood/
- 33. References Myo-inositol contentof common foods: development of a high-myo-inositol diet. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/33/9/1954. abstract Neuroscience. 2002;111(2):231-9. GABA mechanisms and sleep. Gottesmann C. Biofactors. 2006;26(3):201-8. Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma- aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. Abdou AM1, Higashiguchi S, Horie K, Kim M, Hatta H, Yokogoshi H.
- 34. References Neuropsychopharmacology: TheFifth Generation of Progress Editors: Kenneth L. Davis et. Al. Publisher Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2002 http://www.acnp.org/publications/neuro5 thgeneration.aspx