Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is found in the GI tract, the central nervous system and the brain. Serotonin affects digestion, heartbeat, mood, sex drive, sleep and anxiety. Serotonin production lessens with age and may be a contributing factor to diseases associated with aging.
History
Vittorio Erspamer first discovered serotonin in Europe in 1935. According to the article "History of the Use of Antidepressants in Primary Care" by Dr. Joseph Leiberman, serotonin was first used in anti-depressants in the 1970s. That began an era of research focused on serotonin's effects on memory and depression. This research led to the conclusion that diseases commonly associated with old age may be caused by decreased serotonin production in elderly people.
Production
Serotonin is synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan. The body cannot produce tryptophan; it must be absorbed through food intake. However, according to research conducted at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, both the ability to absorb tryptophan and the serotonin system in the body decreases substantially with age.
Maintenance
To maintain adequate serotonin production with old age it is important to meet or exceed the 200 mg recommended daily allowance of tryptophan. According to Lifeenhancement.com, a medicinal herb company, it is also important to maintain a stress-free lifestyle and may be beneficial to take selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or herbal supplements such as St. John's Wort.
Serotonin, Aging and Memory
Science Daily reported in 2002 that research completed at the Brain and Behavior Institute at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands found that depletion of tryptophan and serotonin "appears to impair memory and learning." The depletion of serotonin with age may increase the likelihood of diseases that affect the memory, such as dementia and Alzheimer's.
Serotonin, Aging and Depression
The lessening of serotonin production with age may be linked to symptoms of depression in elderly people. University of Maryland Medical Center explains that depression in the elderly can often be treated with selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, such as Prozac and Zoloft. These medications prevent the reuptake of serotonin into body cells, allowing it to stay in neurons and improve mood.
Significance
Depression, memory loss and Alzheimer's disease create serious quality of life issues among aging populations. If these problems can be diagnosed and treated with SSRIs and more effective serotonin production through diet and lifestyle, it will provide a better quality of life for aging people.
References
- Doctor's Guide: Brain's Serotonin System Declines with Age
- Dr. Joseph Lieberman: History of the Use of Antidepressants in Primary Care
- Life Enhancement: 5-HTP Does More Than You Think
- Science Daily: Depletion of Body Chemical Can Cause Memory, Mood Changes
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Depression in the Elderly
