HMNC Brain Health’s Post

🌿Dr. Michael Newman, DNM., Ph.D., HHP February 23, 2024 - 11 min read Five Low Dopamine Symptoms + Remedies For Low Dopamine There are over 40 neurotransmitters in the human nervous system, and dopamine (DA) is considered one of the top four significant neurotransmitters, next to acetylcholine, serotonin, and glutamate. What is dopamine, and what are its roles? DA is a well-known brain chemical, a.k.a. neurotransmitter; although it also acts as a compound that helps maintain homeostasis (state of balance), it is the body's chemical messenger. It communicates chemical messages between nerve cells, your brain, and the rest of your body. Its vital role is that it functions as our “reward center” and emotional state. It has also been called our "happy" neurotransmitter. DA functions include memory, learning, reward, mood, motivation, and movement (Speranza et al., 2021) (Lewis et al., 2021). What are the symptoms of low dopamine? Dopamine deficiency can affect your mental and physical health, leading to many medical conditions associated with DP deficiency, like Parkinson’s disease, depression, restless legs syndrome, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), social withdrawal, and schizophrenia, to name a few disorders. It may also make you more susceptible to taking risks or developing addictions (Cramb et al., 2023). Here is the full article link: https://lnkd.in/gTSYrQuu.

"With roughly 30% of those experiencing depression not responding to traditional treatments, it’s high time we explore beyond conventional solutions." Interested in learning about the general landscape of psilocybin therapy in research? Forbes recently published "A Synthetic Psychedelic Is Making Waves In Stubborn Depression Treatment—Here’s What You Need To Know" which both poses and answers several common questions around this research in development. At PsyPal, we are excited to be bringing new knowledge into this field and generating new & usable insights into palliative care and beyond. Read here: https://lnkd.in/ddEV5MtG #psilocybintherapy #depressionresearch

Some types of psychedelic medicines such as psilocybin and MDMA have shown promise as therapies for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. They appear to work by encouraging the growth of new connections between neurons in the brain. Studies suggest that psychedelics may facilitate neuroplasticity at the cellular and network levels allowing the brain to form and reorganize connection. This creates a unique opportunity to change patterns in brain activity, and in turn, improve symptoms, behavior and functioning, to ultimately eliminate suffering. Want to learn more? https://lnkd.in/dy3K8hhD

Dream enactment may be an early sign of disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, and may be confused with post-traumatic stress disorder. For those with RBD, the risk of Parkinson’s Disease is high. Individuals aged 50 and older with isolated RBD — that occurs spontaneously with no other health complaints or recent medication changes — have a high likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease in the future. It is because of these statistics that the NAPS Consortium makes it their mission to support clinical care, advance discovery, promote education, and engage our community in order to improve the quality of life and care of individuals living with RBD. Through these efforts, we hope to establish a treatment paradigm that will delay the onset of, or prevent the development of, neurodegenerative disorders associated with RBD. Learn more about the work that we support from The Washington Post at the link below. https://bit.ly/3UTTg9u

Some types of psychedelic medicines such as psilocybin and MDMA have shown promise as therapies for treatment-resistant depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. They appear to work by encouraging the growth of new connections between neurons in the brain. Studies suggest that psychedelics may facilitate neuroplasticity at the cellular and network levels allowing the brain to form and reorganize connection. This creates a unique opportunity to change patterns in brain activity, and in turn, improve symptoms, behavior and functioning, to ultimately eliminate suffering. Want to learn more? https://lnkd.in/d5uXEZqn

Johnson & Johnson's seltorexant significantly improved depression and insomnia in a phase 3 trial. This breakthrough drug, used with existing antidepressants, met all primary and secondary endpoints in a study of 588 patients. Impact - Potentially a game-changer for treating depression with insomnia, addressing a major unmet need. Insights - ▪️ Highlights the crucial link between depression and sleep. ▪️ Demonstrates strong efficacy and safety. Questions - ▪️ How will seltorexant reshape MDD treatment? ▪️ What further research is needed? #MentalHealth #Depression #Insomnia #ClinicalTrials

🧠 Fascinated by the recent interview with Professor David Nutt, Care Committee member at Klearwell and leading Neuropsychopharmacologist, discussing how ketamine may provide relief for those battling severe depression. Recent findings suggest that ketamine targets the lateral habenula, a crucial brain region for emotional processing and reward. This could pave the way for ketamine to become a standard treatment option. A significant step forward in understanding and treating depression! Listen to the interview here: https://buff.ly/4dhmHZT #MentalHealthAwareness #DepressionTreatment #Psychopharmacology #Research #KetamineTherapy #TreatmentResistant #Psychotherapy #AlternativeTherapy #MentalHealth

Listen up! Mainstream medical is gearing up to practice ketogenic diets as a treatment for mental illness. It's showing up on Medscape, for goodness' sake. https://lnkd.in/gYT6ZPxs You are going to need to learn both how to inform inquiring patients and professionally support patients using your psychotherapy skills who utlizie this metabolic therapy as a treatment. Just like you are expected to be educated on how to talk about and support medications in your work as a psychotherapist. Are you ready? Discuss!

💫 New Article Alert! 💫 Are you curious about the future of Depression Treatment? ✔️ Our recently published article explores the workings of Spravato, a groundbreaking treatment option for those struggling with treatment-resistant depression. We've delved deep into the science behind how it works, its advantages, potential side effects and more, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this pioneering therapy. Whether you're a healthcare professional looking to stay updated with the latest advancements or an individual seeking alternative treatment solutions, this article is packed with insights you won't want to miss. 🚀 Join us as we explore the future of depression treatment. Click on the link below to read the full article. #Spravato #DepressionTreatment #MentalHealth #HealthcareInnovation 🔗 https://lnkd.in/e28sp3bz

If you or a loved one is experiencing treatment resistant mental illness (OR if pharmacology is effective for symptoms, but isn’t ideal for any reason), take note: “Overall, 43% (P < .02) of participants achieved recovery as defined by the Clinical Mood Monitoring Form criteria: 50% of the adherent group and 33% of those who were semi-adherent.” The pilot study was just 21 participants, so further research definitely called for (and, I assure you, coming), but the emergent research is consistently showing great promise on this nutritional intervention for mental health, which van also offer an array of additional physical health improvements for many. Obviously folks should work with their professional care team, as medications may likely need to be adjusted, etc. (And if they don’t have experience with the therapeutic application of ketogenic diets, it may also be necessary to find someone who does.) For those interested in learning more, you can check out Dr Christopher Palmer’s book, “Brain Energy”.