A Heads-Up Look at Brain Health by Randy Drake
edical
advances of today and the very near future gene therapies,
nanotechnology, targeted monoclonal antibodies, cloning, and more
will allow us to repair or replace
damaged and diseased body parts and raise the average life expectancy
to 100 years or more. The problem with this magnificent advancement
is the studies which suggest that 40% of those reaching 85, and
nearly 100% of those reaching 120, will be senile. Of what use is
living to a ripe old age if we cannot enjoy it, or even be aware
that were alive? Brain Studies Some 2000 years ago the ancient Greeks attributed all behavior
to four temperaments: Hot, Dry, Moist, and Cold. The Romans attributed
all symptoms and behaviors to four body fluids, which they called
humors: Phlegm, Yellow Bile, Black Bile, and Blood. While Hippocrates,
Galen, and hundreds of others slowly advanced the understanding
of human anatomy and physiology, the brain sat unstudied for over
1500 years. It was not until the 18th and 19th centuries that brain
anatomical science progressed to the point that four distinct lobes
were identified, with specific behaviors and body functions ascribed
to each. Over the next 100 years, biochemical and pharmaceutical researchers
discovered four separate brain chemicals, called neurotransmitters,
that were used by the brain. Somewhat later, four distinct brain
waves, or patterns of electrical activity, were discovered and correlated
with specific lobes in the brain. Only fairly recently have researchers
started to understand this most mysterious organ. From the 1950s to present, psychiatrists and phychologists have
described four broad classifications of human behavior: extroverted
or introverted, intuitive or sensing, thinking or feeling, and perceiving
or judging. If you suspect that these four primary behaviors can
be assigned to a specific lobe, youd be right! Brain malfunctions, as manifested by psychiatric problems or unacceptable
behavior, can be largely attributed to an imbalance of neurotransmitters
within the brain. Unfortunately, discovering these levels within
a living brain was not an easy task. (If you think a spinal tap
is a risky procedure, just imagine a brain tap gone
wrong!) What was needed was a simple, noninvasive test to measure
the levels of neurotransmitters in a functioning human brain. Various
scans of the brain can be employed, but they cannot show actual
brain function. For example, an MRI of a patients brain right
before death and right after death would be identical. After 25 years of painstaking work, neurological researchers have
finally uncovered a long-hidden piece of the puzzle the relationship
between the brains chemicals and the brains electricity.
This discovery allowed clinicians to diagnose brain dysfunction
with a simple, noninvasive assessment of the brains electrical
activity. By measuring the four electrical components of brain activity,
doctors can determine the levels of the four neurotransmitters and
initiate treatment protocols to correct a deficiency of one or more
of them. Correlation Times Four Four temperaments; four humors; four neurotransmitters; four lobes;
four classes of human behavior; four brain waves; four electrical
measurements of brain function. How do these relate? The following
table shows the relationship between brain lobes, neurotransmitters,
behaviors or personality types, and electrical measurements.
Brain lobes
|
Dominant Neuro-
transmitter (NT)
|
Behavior
(Personality Type)
|
Electrical
Measurement
|
|
|
high NT
|
low NT
|
|
parietal
|
acetylcholine
|
intuitive
|
sensing
|
speed
|
frontal
|
dopamine
|
extrovert
|
introvert
|
voltage
|
temporal
|
GABA
|
judging
|
perceiving
|
rhythm
|
occipital
|
serotonin
|
feeling
|
thinking
|
synchrony
|
The table above shows the electrical measurements used to determine
neurotransmitter levels. As a person ages, his brain goes through
a slow decline, or electropause, in which the voltage,
speed, rhythm, and synchrony change. By measuring these four electrical
characteristics, a persons brain age can
be determined, which may be younger or older than typical for his
chronological age. More importantly, a deficiency in one or more
neurotransmitters can be detected and steps taken to restore normal
levels. A computerized diagnostic device called a Brain Electrical Activity
Map (BEAM) measures these four values and creates a picture
of the brains electrical activity. It records and tracks the
progression of the positive wave created in the brain by an external
stimulus, such as a sound (auditory evoked potential) or a flash
of light (visual evoked potential). Speed. A normal brain takes about 300 msec
(milliseconds) plus a persons age in years to think.
This is the measurement of the time delay, or latency, between a
stimulus given and the recognition of that stimulus in the brain.
As the latency increases (speed decreases), a person moves from
mild cognition deficits to severe dementia. Voltage. A normal brain creates an electrical
potential of about 10 µv (microvolts).
The voltage generated in a persons brain is related to his
ability to concentrate, and low voltage can result in memory impairment,
obesity, addictions, or schizophrenia. Rhythm refers to the regularity of a persons brain
waves. Like cardiac rhythm, the more smooth the rhythm, the better.
Brain-wave arrhythmias yield a spectrum of disorders from anxiety
and recurring headaches to manic depression and seizures. Synchrony is a comparison of the electrical activity in
each of the hemispheres of the brain. It is common for a person
to be dominant in one hemisphere or the other, but a severe imbalance
in the electrical activity of the right vs. left hemisphere can
lead to sleep disorders, IBS, somatization disorders, or phobias. Acetylcholine Review: A normal brain takes about 300
msec (milliseconds) plus a persons age in years to think.
This is the measurement of the time delay, or latency, between a
stimulus given and the recognition of that stimulus in the brain.
As the latency increases (speed decreases), a person moves from
mild cognition deficits to severe dementia. Acetylcholine-associated disease states A diagnostic evaluation of a persons brain speed can give
objective evidence of disturbances in cognition, memory, attention,
and behavior. After subtracting the patients age, the baseline
latency measurement indicates the following: 300 msec is normal;
350 msec indicates mild to moderate disturbances in cognitive function
(muddled thinking); 360 to 370 msec indicates ADD or
variability of attention, errors of omission or commission, and
delayed reaction time; 380 msec is typically found in Parkinson
patients; 420 msec is the threshold for Alzheimer disease, with
increasing latency as the dementia progresses. Early detection of
deficiencies in the speed at which the brain operates can allow
early intervention to slow or reverse the decline, possibly delaying
or preventing the onset of Alzheimer and other dementias. Beyond detecting a frank disease state associated with severe acetylcholine
deficiency, physicians can analyze the balance of the four
neurotransmitters to determine a patients personality type. The acetylcholine-dominant personality Acetylcholine is produced in the parietal lobes, which are responsible
for thinking functions such as language processing, intelligence,
and attention. People with an excess of acetylcholine (about 17%
of the worlds population) are adept at working with their
senses and view the world in sensory terms. They are quick thinkers,
highly creative, and open to new ideas. Flexibility, creativity,
and impulsivity open them up to trying almost anything, as long
as it offers the promise of excitement and something new; they are
not afraid of failure. They love to travel and have a quest for
lifelong learning. These people also tend to be extremely sociable,
even charismatic. They love making new friends and put a lot of
energy into all of their relationships, whether at work, at home,
or in the community. They are eternally optimistic, romantic with
their significant other, and attentive to the needs of their children.
They are quite popular with a broad range of people. People with
extremely high levels of acetylcholine, however, risk giving too
much of themselves to others, even to the point of being masochistic.
They may feel that the world is taking advantage of them, or they
may become paranoid. Too much acetylcholine can drive a person into
isolation. The acetylcholine-deficient personality Low levels of acetylcholine result when either the brain burns
too much or produces too little. Shifts in personality occur at
a much milder deficiency than the dementia- producing deficiencies
mentioned earlier. These personality traits can, in fact, manifest
when the acetylcholine level is only slightly lower than the levels
of the other three neurotransmitters. And remember, were looking
at the relative balance of neurotransmitters. A deficiency
in one neurotransmitter is usually offset by an excess of another,
which typically produces the personality traits associated with
a dominance of that other neurotransmitter. The eccentric. The absence of thought connections to other
people and the world makes this persons behavior seem odd.
The eccentric usually steers away from human interaction and keeps
himself isolated. Outwardly, he appears bland and inexpressive.
When even mildly stressed, however, he can become a danger to himself
and others. The perfectionist. This person is usually hard working,
detail oriented, devoted, and exacting. Self-discipline is a hallmark
of this personality type, which can be either a plus or a minus,
depending on the severity of the imbalance and which other neurotransmitter
is dominant. This person can be an excellent worker, or he can be
rigid and obsessive to the point that nothing is actually accomplished.
The perfectionists life is usually lacking in enjoyment, relaxation,
and warmth, which can make that person unapproachable. Dopamine Review: A normal brain creates an electrical
potential of about 10 µv (microvolts).
The voltage generated in a persons brain is related to his
ability to concentrate, and low voltage can result in memory impairment,
obesity, addictions, or schizophrenia. Dopamine-associated disease states A persons ability to concentrate can be directly correlated
with his dopamine level. A diagnostic evaluation of the voltage
in a persons brain can give objective evidence of disturbances
in concentration and memory. Low dopamine levels can be involved
in difficulty performing routine tasks, a variety of sexual disorders
such as loss of libido or anorgasmy, various addictions, from caffeine
to opiates, and decreased physical activity due to fatigue. Obesity
is a common result of the combination of sugar cravings and low
physical activity associated with suboptimal dopamine levels in
the brain. Brain voltage can vary within the range of 0 µv
(dead) to 20 µv (super concentration),
with 10 µv being classified as normal.
The voltage range correlates as follows: 0-2 µv
is typically found in cocaine babies; 2-4 µv
can indicate severe addictions, severe attention deficit disorder,
or schizophrenia; 5-6 µv indicates a chronic
brain disorder; 7 µv is found in those
with moderate addictive behavior, such as caffeine and sugar cravings;
8-9 µv is typical for mild to moderate
memory and thinking disturbances, including mild attention deficit;
10 µv is normal; and above
10 µv indicates an increased ability to
concentrate, even to the rejection of external stimuli at the high
end of the range. Drugs that increase dopamine levels have been used as adjunctive
therapy for schizophrenia and opiate addiction. Beyond detecting
and treating frank disease states associated with a severe dopamine
deficiency, physicians can analyze the balance of the four
neurotransmitters to determine a patients personality type. The dopamine-dominant personality Dopamine is the source of the brains power and energy. People
with an excess of dopamine (about 17% of the worlds population)
thrive on energy. They are likely to be strong-willed individuals
who know what they want and how to get it. They are highly rational,
more comfortable with facts and figures than feelings and emotions.
They can be self-critical, but do not accept criticism or negative
feedback from others. These people function well under stress, focusing
intently on the task at hand. They are tireless and typically need
less sleep than average. Strategeic thinking, invention, and problem-solving
are the hallmarks of these individuals. In their personal lives,
they like activities related to knowledge and intellect. They can
be competitive in sports, but prefer individualized sports over
group sports. They tend to establish personal relationships easily,
but may have trouble nurturing them. As highly rational people,
they have trouble understanding that many people believe feelings
are more important than reason. They have a tendency to want to
exert control over their spouse and children, and a successful marriage
depends on the loyalty and goodwill of the spouse. People with extremely high levels of dopamine, however, can be
overly intense, driven, and impulsive. They may turn to violence
as a way of creating controlled environments of excitement and power.
Teens may be driven to shoplifting, street racing, or date rape.
Criminals especially repeat sexual offenders often
have extreme dopamine levels and a heightened libido that frequently
accompanies it. The dopamine-deficient personality Low levels of dopamine result when either the brain burns too much
or produces too little. Shifts in personality occur at a much milder
deficiency than the disease- producing deficiencies mentioned earlier.
Personality shifts can, in fact, manifest when the dopamine level
is only slightly lower than the levels of the other three neurotransmitters.
And remember, were looking at the relative balance
of neurotransmitters. A deficiency in one is usually offset by an
excess of another, which typically produces the personality traits
associated with a dominance of that other neurotransmitter. Dopamine production determines the brains power, as measured
by voltage. As the voltage becomes suboptimal, the person literally
slows down, mentally and physically. Minor deficiencies can produce
a range of mental and physical symptoms, such as mild memory loss,
mild depression (the blues), panic disorder, PMS, insomnia,
fatigue, mild hypertension, nicotine addiction, and obesity. Sexual
side effects, such as loss of libido and difficulty achieving orgasm,
are common among people with a dopamine deficiency. The previous two neurotransmitters acetylcholine and dopamine
can be thought of as the brains on switch,
providing energy, power, and speed. The next two gamma-aminobutyric
acid (GABA) and serotonin function as the brains off
switch, providing calmness, rest, and sleep. A balance of the on
and off neurotransmitters is necessary for proper brain
function. GABA Review: Rhythm refers to the regularity of a persons
brain waves. Like cardiac rhythm, the more smooth the rhythm, the
better. Brain-wave arrhythmias, or dysrhythmias, yield a spectrum
of disorders from anxiety and recurring headaches to manic depression
and seizures. GABA-associated disease states Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter
in the brain. It has a calming, stabilizing effect. It controls
the brains rhythm, which allows a person to function at a
steady pace and prevent him from becoming too hyper.
As the brains GABA level declines, brain waves begin to become
less rhythmic. This can bring on a multitude of symptoms, both psychological
and physical. Mild brain-wave dysrhythmias can produce anxiety and its accompanying
physical manifestations: restlessness, sweating, cold or clammy
hands, butterflies in the stomach, and a lump in the throat. Other
physical symptoms that can appear with a moderate GABA deficiency
include carbohydrate cravings, an abnormal sense of smell, and unusual
allergies. As GABA levels further decrease, anxiety can become more
pronounced and produce attention-deficit disorders, PMS, flushing,
trembling, hypertension, cystitis, and gastrointestinal disorders.
At the most extreme deficiency, this can become full-blown panic
attacks, manic depression, migraine headaches, hyperventilation,
palpitations, tachycardia, blurred vision, tinnitus, twitching,
and seizures. Advanced psychological symptoms can include severe
delusions, feelings of dread, and a short temper that can progress
into full-blown rage reactions and violence. Chronic marijuana and
alcohol abuse can signal an acute GABA deficiency. Beyond detecting and treating frank disease states associated
with GABA deficiencies, physicians can analyze the balance
of the four neurotransmitters to determine a patients personality
type. The GABA-dominant personality People with high GABA levels (about 50% of the worlds population)
share the common attributes of stability, consistency, sociability,
and concern for others. They are natures most dependable people.
They can be counted on to show up at work every day and be there
when others need them. At work, GABA- dominant people are the ones
who set goals, organize projects, schedule activities, and keep
others on task. Their punctuality, objectivity, practicality, and
confidence make them excellent employees. Organization is paramount
to them at work, at home, and in their social life. Its
no wonder that these people gravitate to careers as administrators,
accountants, air-traffic controllers, meeting planners, nurses,
EMTs, and yes, medical transcriptionists. Theyre the ones
in the group who stay focused on the matter at hand. They are the
consummate team player, both metaphorically and literally. In their
personal life, such people derive pleasure from taking care of their
family and friends. They can be a serene island in a sea of chaos.
Although they like group activities, they cherish one- on- one relationships.
Their friends are forever, and their marriage is a long- term commitment.
Nurturing and making others happy is their ultimate goal. They tend
to be religious and believe in traditions, especially where friends
and family are involved, such as holiday gatherings. As with the other neurotransmitters, it is possible to have too
much of a good thing. People who produce too much GABA can be organizational
to the point of setting rigid schedules and micromanaging others,
whether as a boss, a coworker, a friend, or spouse. Excess GABA
can dramatically increase a persons nurturing tendencies.
They can spend enormous amounts of time and energy looking for opportunities
to give love and care to others, at the cost of their own needs
not being met. The GABA-deficient personality Low levels of GABA result when either the brain burns too much
or produces too little. Shifts in personality occur at a much milder
deficiency than the disease- producing deficiencies mentioned earlier.
Personality shifts can, in fact, manifest when the GABA level is
only slightly lower than the levels of the other three neurotransmitters.
And remember, were looking at the relative balance
of neurotransmitters. A deficiency in one is usually offset by an
excess of another, which typically produces the personality traits
associated with a dominance of that other neurotransmitter. Unlike a balanced brain that creates energy in a smooth, steady
flow, a person with low GABA creates energy in bursts. This brain
dysrhythmia can upset the body in a number of ways, but none is
more pronounced than in the realm of emotional well- being. Specifically,
he can lose the ability to effectively deal with lifes stresses.
He may begin to feel nervous, anxious, and irritable. He may demonstrate
poor emotional stability, lack impulse control, and resort to childish
behavior. It can also manifest as poor verbal memory and difficulty
concentrating. Physically, low GABA levels can bring on a variety
of subacute conditions such as allergies, transient aches, instability
while walking, diarrhea or constipation, and insomnia or hypersomnia.
Usually, such physical annoyances occur one after another to the
point that a person begins to wonder about his general state of
health. Serotonin Review: Synchrony is a comparison of the electrical activity in each of the hemispheres of the brain. It is common for a person to be dominant in one hemisphere or the other, but a severe imbalance in the electrical activity of the right vs. left hemisphere can lead to sleep disorders, IBS, somatization disorders, or phobias. Serotonin-associated disease states Correlating with delta waves in the brain, serotonin affects your ability to rest, regenerate, and find serenity. Adequate serotonin allows the brain to recharge and rebalance itself each night, so that you can begin each morning with a fresh start. Serotonin is produced in the occipital lobes, which is also the center of sight. As serotonin levels drop, the right and left hemispheres become desynchronized, producing feelings of being out of control. Moderately low levels can produce depression, mild hypertension, arthritis, poor temperature regulation, sexual disturbances such as premature ejaculation or delayed arousal response, bowel disturbances, mild PMS with emotional outbursts, learning disorders, obsessive- compulsive behavior, and insomnia, which tends to further lower serotonin levels. As levels drop further, hypertension can become uncontrolled, arthritis can intensify, PMS can become severe, and a wide range of perimenopausal symptoms can occur. With a severe shortage of serotonin, physical and psychological disturbances may become life threatening, with bingeing, masochism, severe depression and other serious mood disorders, addictions including alcoholism and drug abuse, somatization disorders, schizoaffective disorders, and schizophrenia with hallucinations. Physically, a severe serotonin deficiency can cause insomnia/ hypersomnia sleep cycles measured in days and increase hypertension to the point of producing a stroke. Beyond detecting and treating frank disease states associated with serotonin deficiencies, physicians can analyze the balance of the four neurotransmitters to determine a patients personality type. The serotonin-dominant personality People with high serotonin levels (about 17% of the worlds population) know how to live in the moment. Realistic and impulsive, they are highly responsive to sensory input. Theyre active participants in life who thrive on change. They take their vacations at a different spot each year. They try new foods, new hobbies, and new friends, and they have a natural disdain for order, structure, and authority. Theyre optimistic, cheerful, easygoing, and the life of the party. A serotonin-dominant person gravitates to trades or professions that offer a variety of tasks, an ever-changing environment, and interactions with different people. Their keen hand-eye coordination makes them well suited to using various tools to accomplish their tasks. Construction workers, truck drivers, military personnel, hairstylists, pilots, surgeons, chiropractors, movie stars, fashion models, photographers, and professional athletes likely owe their skills to ample serotonin levels. Preferred sports can include mountain climbing, hunting, skydiving, hang gliding, scuba diving just about anything that offers a personal challenge along with a certain level of excitement. They play hard and have the time of their life when doing activities that others would consider too dangerous. In relationships, they can be romantic and passionate, but they also love their independence and often refuse to be tied down. Due to their impulsivity and desire for change, they tend to move away from people before deep relationships develop. In fact, their friendships are typically many and varied wide instead of deep. They have a fondness for children, but make better aunts and uncles than parents. As with the other neurotransmitters, it is possible to have too much. An excess of serotonin can make a person extremely nervous. He can become hesitant, distracted, hypersensitive to criticism, and morbidly afraid of being disliked. Excessive serotonin can make a person believe he is inadequate and inferior. Sadness and anger are constant companions, and although he may have a desperate desire for interpersonal interaction, he is too fearful to even make an attempt. The serotonin-deficient personality Serotonin deficiency can occur from experiencing too much excitement (thereby metabolizing large amounts of serotonin) and/or not getting sufficient sleep (causing the brain to generate less serotonin). Shifts in personality occur at a much milder deficiency than the disease- producing deficiencies mentioned earlier. Personality shifts can, in fact, manifest when the serotonin level is only slightly lower than the levels of the other three neurotransmitters. And remember, were looking at the relative balance of neurotransmitters. A deficiency in one is usually offset by an excess of another, which typically produces the personality traits associated with a dominance of that other neurotransmitter. A common sign of serotonin deficiency is depression and fatigue. The chronic lack of sufficient sleep means that the brain is unable to rest, regenerate, and resynchronize. This can manifest in the personality as a flat affect (a classic sign of depression) and a lack of pleasure, artistic appreciation, and common sense. The person may become codependent, obsessive- compulsive, or exhibit loner tendencies. He can be impulsive or perfectionistic, painfully shy or masochistic. Someone with multiple phobias is typically serotonin deficient. The frequent use of ecstasy, PCP, and LSD also signals a serotonin deficiency. Lettin’ the good guys in,
Keepin’ the bad guys out We have been made with a wonderful mechanism to prevent harmful substances from entering the brain. Not everything that circulates in the blood stream is allowed entry into the brain. There is a barrier between the blood and the brain, logically called the blood-brain barrier, that allows only glucose and certain nutrients selective access to the brain. This membrane protects the brain from toxins and other substances that would cause it damage. It also “holds in” certain substances manufactured by the brain, notably neurotransmitters, that would be lost through diffusion throughout the rest of the body if allowed to pass into the blood stream. Therefore, the same membrane that prevents toxins from passing through also prevents neurotransmitters from passing through. This characteristic of the blood-brain barier is the reason why a Parkinson disease patient, for example, cannot receive an injection of dopamine to restore the dopamine level in his brain and reverse the disease. So the dilemma is how to raise the level of specific neurotransmitters in the brain, when simple supplementation with those neurotransmitters is ineffective. The answer lies in finding a way to “coax” the brain to produce more endogenous neurotransmitters. It turns out that the answer is fairly simple — give the brain more raw material, and it will make more neurotransmitters. Fortunately, the mechanism by which the brain makes each neurotransmitter is well known. Like most substances in the body, they are made through a series of chemical reactions. Notice that I said the blood-brain barrier allows only glucose and certain nutrients selective access to the brain. It is those “certain nutrients” that the brain uses to make neurotransmitters. If there is a deficiency in any of the nutrients needed to make a specific neurotransmitter, there will be a corresponding deficiency of that neurotransmitter. Supplementing the deficient nutrient(s) will allow the brain to resume full production of the neurotransmitter. Building a better brain So what are the “certain nutrients” that the brain must have? Without going into the chemistry of neurotransmitter manufacture, suffice it to say that the brain’s supply of amino acids is the most common limiting step in their production. Amino acids, the basic building blocks of protein, are also the basic raw material the brain uses to function. As such, they easily cross the blood-brain barrier. All amino acids can cross the blood-brain barrrier, in fact, but not all are used to make neurotransmitters. The problem is that all the amino acids circulating in the blood stream at any given time compete for passage through the “amino acid channels” in the blood-brain barrier, and passage of a specific amino acid is granted in proportion to its concentration in the blood. If you eat a steak or other complete protein source, all 20 amino acids are simultaneously competing for entry into the brain. Supplementing with, say, 1 gram of a certain amino acid won’t do much if you chase it with a glass of milk (15 grams of protein in 12 oz.) or take it with a meal. To be effective, amino acid supplements should be taken on an empty stomach with plain water or fruit juice (the fructose in juice helps escort the amino acid to the brain). In the paragraphs that follow, I will tell you which amino acids are used to boost which neurotransmitter, and the primary food sources for that amino acid. Food sources are complex, however, and foods that boost the production of one neurotransmitter can also contain substances that boost the production of another. Eggs, for example, provide a tremenous boost for acetylcholine, but they also have a component that supports GABA. This is one reason why a change of diet takes longer to produce an effect than supplementation with pure amino acids. You should know that prescription drugs are also available to boost the production of a specific neurotransmitter or slow its destruction, but that is beyond the scope of this article. They are listed in detail in the reference given at the end of the article. (Note: numbers shown after the supplements listed below refer to the relative efficacy in boosting the neurotransmitter, on a scale of [1]=best to [4]=least effective.) Boosting acetylcholine
- Pure amino acid precursors: serine, carnitine.
- Amino acid-boosting supplements: DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol) [1], phosphatidylcholine [1], phosphatidylserine [2], acetyl-L-carnitine [2], GPC (glycerol phosphocholine) [3].
- Supporting supplements: huperzine A [1], nicotine [1], lipoic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) [3], fish oils [3], manganese [4], conjugated linoleic acid [4].
- Hormonal supplements: DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) [2].
- Illegal supplements: LSD, PCP, psychotropic mushrooms.
- Dietary support: choline-rich foods, including avocado, cucumber, zucchini, lettuce, most fruit, bacon, bologna, hot dogs, chicken, turkey, pork, liver, fish, beef, milk, ice cream, sour cream, yogurt, cheese, eggs, and various nuts.
- Lifestyle support: aerobic exercise.
Boosting dopamine
- Pure amino acid precursors: phenylalanine, tyrosine.
- Amino acid-boosting supplements: N-acetyl tyrosine [2], L-tyrosine [3], phenylalanine [3]. (Note: most ingested phenylalanine is hydroxylated to tyrosine in the body. Tyrosine supplements, therefore, need one less chemical conversion step to be used by the body.)
- Supporting supplements: caffeine [1], guarana [1], yohimbe [1], ephedra[2], nicotine [2], Rhodiola rosea [3], thiamine [4], chromium [4], folic acid [4].
- Hormonal supplements: DHEA [2].
- Illegal supplements: cocaine, ecstasy, mescaline.
- Dietary support: phenylalanine- and tyrosine-rich foods, including wild game, duck, turkey, pork, chicken, luncheon meats, cottage cheese, ricotta, milk, yogurt, walnuts, soybeans, wheat germ, granola, rolled oats, dark chocolate, and eggs.
- Lifestyle support: sexual activity (for women), weight-bearing exercise, aerobic exercise.
Boosting GABA
- Pure amino acid precursor: glutamine.
- Amino acid-boosting supplements: L-glutamine [1].
- Supporting supplements: inositol [1], alcohol [1], B vitamins [2], glycine [3], kava [3], BCAA (branched-chain amino acids) [4], taurine [4].
- Hormonal supplements: progesterone [2].
- Illegal supplements: opioids, ketamine, marijuana, quaaludes.
- Dietary support: glutamine-rich foods (especially complex carbohydrates), including almonds, walnuts, and other tree nuts, whole-grain wheat and oats, rice bran, brown rice, lentils, potatoes, broccoli, spinach, bananas, citrus fruit, halibut, and beef liver.
- Lifestyle support: sexual activity (for men and women), sleep, aerobic exercise.
Boosting serotonin
- Pure amino acid precursor: tryptophan.
- Amino acid-boosting supplements: L-tryptophan [2], 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) [3].
- Supporting supplements: St. John’s wort [2], vitamin B6 [4], fish oils [4].
- Hormonal supplements: melatonin [1], progesterone [2].
- Illegal supplements: LSD, PCP, GHB, ecstasy.
- Dietary support: tryptophan-rich foods, including wild game, pork, luncheon meats, duck, turkey, chicken, wheat germ, cottage cheese, and eggs.
- Lifestyle support: aerobic exercise, psychotherapy, sleep.
To learn more This series of articles is a synopsis of the groundbreaking research of Eric R. Braverman, MD, as presented at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) Annual Conference, June 2003. Dr. Braverman was a member of the pioneering research team at Havard University that developed the BEAM (Brain Electrical Activity Map), a noninvasive device to measure neurotransmitter levels in functioning brains through electrical activity. For more information, his book, The Edge Effect, is highly recommended reading.
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