Dopamine deficiency
Valeria Dahm is a freelance writer in the medical department. She studied medicine at the Technical University of Munich. It is particularly important to her to give the curious reader an insight into the exciting subject area of medicine and at the same time to maintain the content.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.Dopamine deficiency means a reduced concentration of dopamine in the blood. Since dopamine is an important messenger substance in the body (neurotransmitter), a dopamine deficiency has different consequences. The best-known clinical picture is Parkinson's disease. Read everything you need to know about dopamine deficiency and how it is treated here.
Dopamine Deficiency: Symptoms
Dopamine is one of the most important transmitters in the brain. Here it is formed in the so-called dopaminergic nerve cells (neurons) from the amino acid tyrosine and ensures targeted control of movements. If the movement impulses are not passed on or only very slowly due to a dopamine deficiency, the following symptoms can arise:
- Tremor (tremor)
- Muscle stiffness (rigor)
- Unsteady gait and stance (postural instability)
- Slowing down of voluntary motor skills (bradykinesia)
A dopamine deficiency can also have devastating consequences in the so-called reward system of the brain and in other important brain functions. Dopamine plays a central role not only in memory, but also in mental health. If the dopamine receptors are no longer adequately stimulated, motivation, drive and alertness suffer. Similar symptoms also occur after drug abuse, when the receptors have previously been flooded with dopamine and therefore react less sensitively afterwards:
- depression
- Listlessness and listlessness (anhedonia)
- Attention deficit
Outside the brain, dopamine in the abdomen and kidneys dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow. The sympathetic nervous system is also stimulated and regulated. Possible consequences of a severe dopamine deficiency in these areas are therefore:
- Constipation (constipation)
- Difficulty swallowing
- uncontrolled sweating
- Voiding disorders
Dopamine Deficiency: Causes
Dopamine deficiency can be due to the death of dopaminergic neurons in the brain, which reduces the production of the neurotransmitter. If more than half of the neurons have died, the first symptoms of dopamine deficiency appear. One speaks of Parkinson's syndrome or Parkinson's disease, also known under the name of "shaking disease". Women and men are equally affected. The frequency peak is between the ages of 50 and 60.
Drug consumption can also cause dopamine deficiency: the misuse of drugs such as cocaine inhibits the re-uptake of dopamine for a short time so that the messenger substance is effective for longer. The receptors are overstimulated and in some cases even broken down so that the body can protect itself from the dopamine excess.If the dopamine level falls again, the receptors need a larger amount of the transmitter for stimulation, so that there is a relative deficiency of dopamine. At the same time, there are fewer receptors for the transmission of the signal. This manifests itself in withdrawal symptoms with restlessness and irritability.
A decreased dopamine production can also have psychological reasons. Stress, physical and emotional stress can also cause dopamine deficiency.
It is also important to have a sufficient supply of amino acids through food, which is why malnutrition or fasting can also lead to a dopamine deficiency.
Dopamine Deficiency: Long Term Consequences
According to current studies, the death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease cannot be stopped, so that the clinical picture is becoming more and more pronounced and other symptoms are added. The initial movement disorders are joined by depressive moods and dementia, for example. In the affected patients, special medication has to compensate for the dopamine deficiency.
It is believed that a dopamine deficiency could also be a contributory factor in attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). According to current studies, it is still unclear to what extent the administration of artificial dopamine can help those affected.
Dopamine Deficiency: What Can You Do About It?
L-Dopa is a precursor to dopamine that can reach the brain via the bloodstream. It is one of the most important substitutes for people with Parkinson's disease. Dopamine-like substances are preferred for younger patients. At the same time, the early breakdown of the messenger substance is prevented with the help of additional drugs.
The relative dopamine deficiency after substance abuse improves after withdrawal as the receptors recover. It is therefore not necessary to remedy the deficit with medication.
A balanced diet creates the basis for a balanced dopamine balance. Meditation, relaxation exercises or yoga also help to rebalance a dopamine deficiency caused by stress or strain.
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