What Does Dopamine Do in the Brain, Body and Heart?

Dopamine is a brain chemical called a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters accommodate signaling between nerve cells (neurons).

Dopamine is used to modulate certain physiological functions – including memory, motor movement, sleep, cognition, libido and addiction. It is also responsible for regulating mood, pleasure and the reward cycle.

Natural dopamine is biosynthesized inside two areas of the brain: the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the substantia nigra. It is important to maintain adequate levels of dopamine throughout life. For most people, levels decrease with age.

People with low dopamine may exhibit symptoms including depression, hopelessness, defeat, fatigue, anger, mood swings, low libido, poor outlook and lacking motivation. It is estimated that more than 70% of US residents have less-than-optimal dopamine levels.

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What does Dopamine do in the Brain?

There are roughly 100 billion nerve cells in the brain. Only about 25,000 are dopaminergic neurons.

From the VTA and substantia nigra, dopamine may travel any of four primary pathways. These are the tuberoinfundibular, mesocortical, nigrostriatal and mesolimbic pathways.

In the substantia nigra, dopamine travels the nigrostriatal pathway to reach the basal ganglia. Nerves in this formation control motor movement.

If dopamine is low here, motion may be delayed or slow. If dopamine is excessive here, then movement may become involuntary and jerky.

If too many neurons die in the basal ganglia, then Parkinson’s disease results. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that is marked by poor motor control, pain, stiffness and the inability to move with intention.

What does Dopamine do in the ventral tegmental area?

Dopamine also serves important purposes in the brain’s ventral tegmental area. The VTA is a formation of grouped neurons in the midbrain’s center; nearby the substantia nigra.

From the VTA, dopamine may travel the mesolimbic pathway. This pathway leads to the limbic system.

The limbic system is made up of the hippocampus and the medial frontal cortex. It regulates our senses of reward, pleasure and certain emotions. Activities inside the limbic system are being explored for their potentials to affect addiction and psychosis.

Dopamine may also travel from the VTA along the mesocortical pathway. This pathway leads to the dorsolateral frontal cortex.

Dopamine in this area helps to modulate our capacities for planning, staying motivated, determining priorities and being consistently responsible.

Dopamine in the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland

The tuberoinfundibular pathway runs between the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Its main function is to secrete prolactin; a hormone which regulates lactation in nursing mothers.

Blocking dopamine neurons in this pathway increases prolactin release.

Dopamine Effects on the Body & Heart

Synthetic Dopamine is used in the form of dopamine hydrochloride for a variety of medical purposes. As a medicine, dopamine hydrochloride is called a sympathomimetic inotrope.

These medications are used to quickly strengthen heartbeat and upregulate delivery of blood throughout the body.

Dopamine hydrochloride is used intravenously to stimulate dopamine receptors in the heart, kidneys, brain and gut.

This treats hypotension (low blood pressure), septicaemia (blood poisoning), kidney failure, heart attack, heart failure and traumatic injuries. Dopamine hydrochloride is also used commonly during open heart surgeries.

How to Increase Natural Dopamine Levels

Your levels of dopamine can be affected by various external and internal factors. One of the most influential factors on dopamine is diet. The foods we eat provide raw materials necessary for dopamine synthesis.

Some of the best dopamine food sources are lean cuts of meat, turkey, fish, eggs, avocados, almonds, bananas and green leafy vegetables.

Aside from choosing foods that promote dopamine synthesis, you can also increase dopamine naturally in several other manners.

Exercise causes increases in both dopamine levels and dopamine receptor numbers. Dopamine and its receptors commonly decrease with age.

Exercising every day for at least thirty minutes may help to maintain healthy levels and delay signs of aging.

The amino acid tyrosine is the precursor of natural L-DOPA. L-DOPA is converted to dopamine, which may then be further converted to other neurotransmitters including norepinephrine and epinephrine.

Using a tyrosine supplement may help to naturally elevate dopamine levels.

An herbaceous plant called Mucuna pruriens also can help to raise dopamine levels. M. pruriens contains roughly 5% natural L-DOPA.

It may also be beneficial to use a quality multivitamin/multimineral supplement to increase dopamine. Vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients are used as cofactors in dopamine synthesis and can increase production.

Conclusions

Dopamine’s roles in the CNS (central nervous system), PNS (peripheral nervous system, kidneys and heart are numerous.

This neurotransmitter is integral for controlling many areas of our behavior, thoughts, feelings and general cognition. Our body movements depend on dopamine as well as our capacities to love, lust and experience pleasure of any type.

It is definitely possible to increase levels of dopamine and numbers of dopamine receptors in the brain, even in the later stages of life.

Besides maintaining a diet and eating habits which accommodate these goals, it is important to remain physically active and effectively manage stress.

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