Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain. It plays a central role in the maintenance of the body's internal clock, known as circadian rhythm, which determines when you wake up and fall asleep....
Huntington's is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects approximately 30,000 Americans. It causes problems with muscle coordination, mental decline and dementia, with onset of symptoms typically occurring between ages 35 and 44. This...
Memory constitutes the basis of our continuity as human beings over time. When memory fails, our lives get knocked out of balance. The loss of short-term memory makes us unable to remember today's events and turn them into long-term memories, and,...
Research is beginning to show the food we eat greatly impacts brain health and aging. The quality of our diets has an impact on the development and progression of such neurodegenerative diseases as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease,...
Caffeine is found in several plants in nature that are consumed by humans, including tea leaves; coffee beans; guarana and mate, which are plants native to South America; cola nuts and cocoa beans. Caffeine has been shown to act as a pesticide in...
The amino acid L-theanine could have a positive effect on your anxiety and mood. Some research suggests L-theanine decreases anxiety and improves cognition, but its effect on anxiety is not yet fully understood. According to Memorial...
Dopamine is a naturally produced chemical that acts as a messenger within the brain, transmitting signals between different parts of the brain. Dopamine is involved in regulating many critical functions in the body and is one of the most important...
Exercise provides many benefits for the body and mind. In some rare cases, exercise can cause an excess of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is a catecholamine, along with serotonin, epinephrine and norepinephrine. This group of...
Dopamine is one of many chemicals called neurotransmitters that are used by the brain and nervous system to communicate. It is responsible for relaying messages related to wakefulness, concentration, appetite, motivation, memory and feelings of...
Dopamine, a chemical signaler of the brain, has important roles in the control of learning and attention and is also involved with motor functioning, or movement. When substances interfere, the amount of dopamine present in the brain is altered...
In the search for ways to treat obsessive compulsive disorder and anxiety, natural substances that restore depleted nutrients to create a favorable response in the brain and body are preferable, wherever possible, to pharmaceutical drugs. Current...
Anti-inflammatory and anti-aging foods are similar, because the process of aging can be inflammatory. Many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and associated symptoms such as dementia...
While it seems as though Americans are becoming more weight and health conscious, that consciousness has yet to appear in the statistics. The Journal of the American Medical Association notes that the current obesity rate for Americans is over 30...
Theanine, an amino acid found primarily in green tea, offers a variety of purported health benefits, including some related to lowering blood pressure. This substance is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, so it can exert its benefits directly...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released in the brain that helps regulate movement and emotional response to stimuli. Dopamine is also one of the neurotransmitters involved in the pleasure pathway of the brain, helping to control the...
Cutting out meat isn't always easy: Just the thought of a hamburger can kick off intense cravings. Still, there's no physical need to give in. Even the strongest cravings are rarely as serious as they seem, and you can treat them without breaking...
ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, has been the foremost childhood problem worldwide since the early 2000s. It is one of an array of neurological disorders affecting children that are becoming more and more common. As the diagnoses...
Extracted from the seed capsule of the opium poppy plant, opiates are a class of narcotics legally prescribed by health professionals for pain relief in the form of morphine. Morphine can be chemically altered to produce heroin, which is used as a...
Glutamate is a naturally-occurring amino acid that is the major activating neurotransmitter in the human nervous system. If levels are too low in our body, cognitive function such as memory and decision-making decline. Too much glutamate acts as...
ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is characterized as abnormal levels of inattentiveness, impulsivity and overactivity. ADHD affects 3 percent to 5 percent of children, and while scientists aren't certain of the exact cause, it is...
Fish oil, high in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, has been used for its beneficial effects on a variety of health conditions, including heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Fish oil also supports proper brain development and...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that carries messages about pleasure, pain and muscle movements between nerve cells. A lack of dopamine in the brain is a major symptom of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Many of the drugs...
Dopamine antagonists are chemicals that occupy dopamine receptors without stimulating them. They thus compete with dopamine for its natural binding sites and hence lower the effects of available dopamine. This can have the same neurological...
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter molecule of the central nervous system. It is associated with muscle control and movement---deficiencies lead to Parkinson's disease and Parkinson's-like symptoms---as well as a variety of cognitive factors. In...
Theanine is an amino acid found in tea leaves that may have various health benefits for those who use it. In Japan, green tea has especially high concentrations of theanine, and it has been used to treat the symptoms of attention deficit...
If you or your child are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, you may have concerns about the side effects associated with traditional medications. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD exhibit problems with hyperactivity,...
Throughout the world, no beverage, other than water, is consumed more frequently than tea, according to an article in "Preventive Medicine." While many unique types of teas exist, few have gained such popularity or prestige as green tea. One...
