Parkinson's disease is caused by death of specific cells in the brain that produce the neurotransmitter dopamine. The death of these cells results in difficulty controlling movements and other psychiatric problems. Increasing dopamine levels in...
The thyroid is a gland, shaped like a butterfly, located at the bottom part of the neck. According to the National Institutes of Health, the job of the thyroid is to release hormones that affect metabolism. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid...
Inositol occurs naturally in the body and you also obtain it from food. Inositol supplements are available as well. The substance is suggested as helpful for numerous health problems, according to eMedTV. Inositol appears to have benefits for...
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that a few minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke a person's heart starts beating more rapidly. The heart rate goes from the normal 70 to 80 beats per minute to 90 to 130 beats per minute or more, which...
The anabolic hormone estrogen promotes growth of cells and the storage of predominantly more fat tissue in women. Obesity increases circulating estrogen levels in the blood. Weight loss reduces estrogen levels in post-menopausal women. Estrogen...
Hypothyroidism is the clinically diagnosed condition of a sluggish thyroid. The NIH notes that approximately five percent of the U.S. population suffers from hypothyroidism. The disease is more frequently diagnosed in women, but a May 2010 "Up to...
Anxiety is a normal reaction to a stressful situation. Almost everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives, but it disappears once the trigger goes away. Anxiety disorders occur when anxiety becomes excessive and irrational and...
Autism is a general term used to describe a related group of neural development and social communication disorders known collectively as autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. Children with ASD commonly have sleep problems related to unusually low...
Dopamine and serotonin are chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters. Dopamine stimulates pleasure and alertness. Serotonin stimulates peacefulness and sleep. The levels of these neurotransmitters are indirectly related to mood,...
Acetyl-L-carnitine, or ALCAR, is a nutritional supplement that is an acetylated form of the amino acid L-carnitine. L-carnitine is a naturally occurring amino acid that is produced by your body and serves various functions. Once ALCAR is ingested,...
Each year, millions of people around the world are affected by depression. Unlike occasional feelings of sadness, depression causes significant clinical impairment in a number of areas. Due to depression's high rate of occurrence, researchers are...
As genetic influences are thought to play a part in bipolar disorder (BPD), when a person is assessed for this condition she is asked whether anyone in her family has, or had, this or any other psychiatric problems.
Bipolar disorder, a mood swing of mania and depression, affects over 10 million people in the United States with an equal prevalence rate in both men and women, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI. Two types of bipolar...
Marijuana, also called weed, is a dry green and brown mix of flowers, stems, seed and leaves from the plant Cannabis sativa, according to the National Association of Drug Abuse (NIDA). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that...
Amino acids are nutrients essential for health and prevention of disease. They contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. After absorption from foods or supplements, amino acids are involved in numerous chemical reactions that include...
Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland. It is used by the body to regulate sleep patterns. Low levels of the hormone can lead to sleep disturbances, and melatonin supplements can help improve quality of sleep. Studies have shown that...
Although the National Institute of Mental Health says anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, helping you cope with difficult situations, excessive anxiety can become debilitating and interfere with your life. Similarly, although sadness is a...
The repercussions of bipolar disorder can devastate an individual’s life with social and career disruptions and suicidal thoughts. The person with bipolar disorder can phase between episodes of paralyzing depression and uncontrollable mania...
Amino acids are organic substances that supply nitrogen to your body. Each amino acid has a unique role. Your body can use 20 different amino acids as building blocks to produce numerous proteins. Your body does not store amino acids, so you must...
Bipolar disorder causes intense mood swings that cause the person to move from deep depression into mania. Bipolar disorder causes both structural and functional abnormalities in the brain. Neuro-imaging tools such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is classified as a catecholamine. A catecholamine is a specific type of molecule that relays messages throughout the brain. Dopamine is a precursor to adrenaline and is involved in neurological processes that...
On any given day, millions of chemical processes occur in the brain. Chemical synapses occur between cells in the brain, called neurons. These neurons communicate with each other, or with other types of cells in the body, to form networks of...
When inappropriate behavior is observed, the neuropsychological explanation may not be immediately considered. People may form opinions about behavior, such as a lack of parental guidance. However, neuropsychology provides evidence that reveals...
According to the National Institutes of Health, depression occurs when the mood centers in the brain function abnormally. No one is certain what causes these abnormalities, but researchers believe that neurotransmitter imbalances may play a role....
Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic-depression, is a mental illness known to be hereditary. The condition causes wide, sometimes disabling mood swings between euphoria and depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, signs of the "manic phase"...
Although humans are born with all, or almost all, of the brain cells that they will ever have, brain development continues throughout infancy. A newborn’s brain develops by forming connections between nerve cells, connections reinforced by...
Melatonin is a hormone produced naturally by the pineal gland located in the middle of the brain just above the brain stem. Produced and released after the sun sets, melatonin regulates sleep. Synthetic melatonin is available as a supplement....
GABA is an amino acid and neurotransmitter that controls excitability of nerves in the central nervous system and has direct control over muscle tone. As the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, GABA has been studied for its effects and...
Marijuana, or "pot," is a mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds and flowers of the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, according to Drugs.com. It is usually smoked, but some users cook it into foods. The main active chemical in...
