Depression Fatigue Fibromyalgia Chronic Pain and Mood problems are closely related to brain chemistry and hormonal status. These are complex, frequently inter-related disorders. Below is a brief introduction to neurotransmitter chemistry – because the brain really does ‘pull the strings’ so to speak and mixed-up brain chemistry is frequently a cause of chronic pain problems.
INTRODUCTION TO NEUROTRANSMITTERS
(with acknowledgement for part of resource material to www.neurorelief.com and Neuro-Lab Ltd, Bournemouth, Dorset, UK)
NEUROTRANSMITTERS: A description of how they work and what they actually do Consider the analogy of a car with its brake and accelerator to gain a basic understanding of neurotransmitters.Normal function in the brain is a matter of the appropriate relay of electrical signals and subsequent chemical (neurotransmitter) release.
Through these electrical signals and the subsequent release of neurotransmitters, neurons (nerve cells) communicate with each other and organs in the body.
Just like a car, neurons use an accelerator and a brake to regulate speed, or in this case, whether or not a neurochemical signal is produced.
The accelerator is equivalent to the excitatory neurotransmitter system.
This includes the neurotransmitters glutamate, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and PEA to name a few.
When these chemicals are released, the hypothetical accelerator is pushed, and the nervous system revs up. The excitatory neurotransmitter system is responsible for sending a signal.
The brake is equivalent to the inhibitory neurotransmitter system.
This includes the neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin.
When these chemicals are released, the hypothetical brake is pushed, and the system slows down.
The inhibitory neurotransmitter system is responsible for preventing a signal from continuing.
There are also many other transmitters and modulators that factor into the effectiveness of the two systems and they include glutamine, glycine, histamine, glutamate, taurine and various hormones.
Just like in a car, the brakes must be maintained or the car will not be able to stop.
If the inhibitory system isn’t maintained or replenished, then the excitatory system will be allowed to go out of control, and eventually, it too will become exhausted.
In order to tell how far along the wear on the systems is, which parts are wearing, and how the parameters that make them more effective are factoring in, it is important to perform neurotransmitter testing.
THERE ARE CURRENTLY A TOTAL OF SEVEN NEUROTRANSMITTER COMPOUNDS WHICH I AM TESTING FOR REGULARLY.
They are: Dopamine, Serotonin, Adrenaline (Epinephrine) , GABA, Nor-Adrenaline(Norepinephrine), Phenylethylamine (PEA), and Acetylcholine
Dopamine is a major neurotransmitter and serves as a precursor to norepinephrine and epinephrine. It plays a significant role in cognitive function and emotion, as well as roles in the cardiovascular, renal, hormonal, and central nervous systems. Long-term excess is often associated with increased blood pressure whilst long-term deficiency may result in impairment of some movement, memory problems, mood swings and low defence activity.
Adrenaline ( called Epinephrine in the US ) is a neurotransmitter and hormone essential to the body’s metabolism and is also known as adrenaline. As a neurotransmitter, epinephrine raises the concentration of free fatty acids in blood and releases glucose form the liver. Long-term excess may result in anxiety, cardiovascular problems and problems with glucose utilization. Long-term deficiency can be associated with fatigue, depression and digestive problems.
GABA is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain, occurring in 30 -40% of all synapses. Insufficient GABA neurotransmission has been associated with increased anxiety and sleep-related problems.
Norepinephrine (Nor- Adrenaline )is most active in the awake state, and is important for focus and attention. It also seems to contribute to anxiety and its turnover is increased during stress. Patients with depression appear to have lower levels of norepinephrine.
Phenylethylamine (PEA ) is an amine neurotransmitter derived form the amino acid phenylalanine. Studies of PEA have found that it increases mental acuity and elevates mood. It is also involved in depression, ADD/ADHD, schizophrenia, and psychopathic conditions.
Serotonin is an amine neurotransmitter synthesized by enzymes that act on tryptophan and/or 5-HTP. Serotonin has been extensively studied and is a therapeutic target for conditions like depression, compulsive disorders, anxiety, insomnia, and migraines.
Acetylcholine is one of the major neurotransmitters and has been shown to be essential for brain development. Learning ability, mental awareness and memory function tend to decline with lowering levels of acetylcholine whilst long-term excess may be associated with exhaustion of pancreatic activity and activation of destructive processes
Serotonin, Dopamine, Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, GABA (Gamma-Amino-Butyric Acid), Acetylcholine.
Neurotransmitter Therapies offer a lot of hope to patients and clinicians.
• I am hugely excited to now be able to obtain laboratory measurement of neurotransmitter chemicals.
• Actually measuring neurotransmitters adds a wonderfully useful information to tailoring and fine-tuning my treatments for fatigue and mood disorders
• Being able to measure these substances for individual patients has helped solve clinical riddles and explain the origin of odd and unusual symptoms that have plagued some patients.
Now: even better: one now can actually treat and rebalance neurotransmitter levels with Targeted Amino Acid Therapy.
Medicine has advanced significantly over the last 50 years, and lifestyles and health risks have also changed dramatically.
Increased workloads, fast food, and time restraints changed the way people eat and the amount of stress people handle on a day-to-day basis.
Poor diet and chronic stress are the most important factors that lead to neurotransmitter imbalance.
Providing the body with an increased supply of the precursors to neurotransmitters increases the body’s ability to synthesize its own supply of transmitters, leading to balanced neurotransmitter levels.
This process is termed Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT)
Neurotransmitters are critical to the functioning of the whole body – not just the Brain.
Every organ is connected to the brain via a vast network of neurons and receptors.
The brain uses neurotransmitters to tell the heart to beat, the lungs to breath, and the intestines to digest.
Optimal and balanced neurotransmitter levels are necessary for healthy functioning- not just in the brain but for the whole body.
Neurotransmitter imbalances and the resulting symptoms are extremely common.
Years of research and review of thousand of laboratory test confirm that as many as eight out of ten people have some level of neurotransmitter imbalance.
Once imbalances are identified, the TAAT program re-establishes neurotransmitter levels and effectively resolves many of the symptoms.
Neurotransmitter Testing is Performed by an independent, accredited laboratory in the UK .
Urine and blood samples are used. Frequently in complex illnesses I will also measure levels of Interleukin -1 Beta, Interleukin 2 and Interferon Gamma ( See below for more information on Interleukin).
Neuroscience Labs ( www.Neuroecienceinc.com and www.neurorelief.com ) provide testing for doctors in North America
TESTING STRATEGY USES BASELINE AND FOLLOW-UP TESTING
Laboratory assessment is the basis of optimizing neurotransmitter balance. Together with clinical presentation, laboratory studies help me to address the biochemical status of individual patients.
Testing objectively documents the exact type of neurotransmitter intervention needed.
Retesting allows adjustment of dosage and monitoring of patient progress.
OPTIMIZING NEUROTRANSMITTER LEVELS
Based on years of laboratory and clinical research, NeuroScienceT has developed a model for optimizing neurotransmitter levels as a way to address many conditions.
This model is designed to maximize health and well being using Targeted Amino Acid Therapy (TAAT) to balance neurotransmitter synthesis.
Neurotransmission affects many processes of the body including mood, pain, hormone and regulation, digestion, and metabolism.
Unless the signals that the brain sends to the body and the feedback it receives are sufficiently strong, the hundreds of processes that affect health will be impaired.
Thus, the balance of neurotransmitters can facilitate or hamper well being and directly impact the efficacy of treatments.
According to this model, neurotransmitter testing should be a component of any primary care screening and workup.
Efforts to address neurotransmitter levels should be front-line strategies for health care practitioners, as essential for well-being as interventions based on blood chemistry results, blood pressure readings, and physical examination.
The process of neurotransmission influences many aspects of health and disease in the human body.
Optimizing neurotransmission by optimizing neurotransmitter levels can lead to desirable outcomes in primary medicine.
Laboratory data, in conjunction with clinical findings, demonstrate that many common symptoms are influenced by neurotransmitters.
Correcting the neurotransmitter levels via the use of neurotransmitter precursors improves the many neurotransmitter related symptoms.
LEVELS OF NEUROTRANSMITTER PRECURSORS
THE IMPORTANCE OF ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF SUPPLY OF THE RAW MATERIALS FOR NEUROTRANSMITTER MANUFACTURE
Precursors are the compounds from which the neurotransmitters originate, either directly or indirectly.
The pattern of the precursors influences the pattern of the neurotransmitters and, hence, the mode of nervous system operation.
The pattern of precursors is used to identify problems and to refine any treatment recommendations.
NEUROTRANSMITTER METABOLITES
MEASURING WHAT IS LEFT OVER:
The IMPORTANCE OF MEASURING THE LEVELS OF NEUROTRANSMITTER METABOLITES
Metabolites are the substances left over after the neurotransmitters have been used up.
The patterns of metabolites of Noradrenaline, Adrenaline, Dopamine and 5HT (Serotonin) reflect the patterns of the activities of the neurotransmitters.
Any long-term imbalanced utilization of the neurotransmitters will contribute to the establishment of an imbalanced level of the neurotransmitters and , therefore, an impaired mode of nervous system operation.
The pattern of the metabolites is used, as with precursor substances, to identify problems and refine treatment recommendations.
NEUROTRANSMITTER DERIVATIVES, NEUROTOXINS AND FALSE NEUROTRANSMITTERS
This is a complex area but, in many fatigue anxiety and mood problems, there may either be :
Neurotoxins which can damage brain cells and deplete supplies of ‘proper’ neurotransmitters. Neurotoxins may be produced from neurotransmitters and free radicals (’loose cannon’ biological compounds which get involved in biologically unhelpful chemical reactions) when some brain areas become overactivated in response to various types of infection.
False neurotransmitters produced by bacteria or fungi within the body (this explains how so-called ‘irritable bowel syndrome’ may cause mood problems, persistent nausea which are not explained easily otherwise)
CYTOKINES
Cytokines are chemical messenger produced by cells of the immune system.
Interleukin -1-beta. IL-1Beta is a cytokine mainly produced by macrophages of the immune system in response to an infection. It is an endogenous pyrogen (i.e. raises the body temperature)and is able to trigger oxidative stress as well as general stress mechanisms. Huigh levels are associated with an acute phase of inflammation, alteration in liver and brain functions.
Interleukin 2. IL-2 is a cytokine produced by some cells usually Th1 cells of the immune system. It promotes the proliferation of various types of immunological cells and also displays both anti-tumoural and pro-tumoural effects. High levels are associated with increased activity of the defence system whilst low levels indicate that the cellular immune response is non-active.
Interferon Gamma. IFN-Gamma is a cytokine produced mainly by the NK cells of the immune system and has both anti-viral and anti-proliferation properties. High levels indicate cell destruction, primarily those cells that have been transformes or infected, and the suppression of the formation of new vessels. Low levels usually indicate that there is a decreased destructive ability of the immune system.