NEUROTRANSMITTERS

This section describes a few of the best known neurotransmitters that are
involved in many functions in both the central and the peripheral nervous
systems. Apart from acetylcholine, they all belong to the family of amines
or amino acids.
Neurotransmitter

Example of Disorder
Involving It

Acetylcholine is a
very widely
distributed excitatory
neurotransmitter that
triggers muscle
contraction and
stimulates the
excretion of certain
hormones. In the
central nervous
system, it is involved
in wakefulness,
attentiveness, anger,
aggression, sexuality,
and thirst, among
other things.

Alzheimers disease
is associated with a
lack of acetylcholine
in certain regions of
the brain.

Dopamine is a
neurotransmitter
involved in controlling
movement and
posture. It also
modulates mood and
plays a central role
inpositive
reinforcement anddepe
ndency.
GABA (gammaaminobutyric acid) is
an inhibitory
neurotransmitter that
is very widely
distributed in the
neurons of the cortex.
GABA contributes to
motor control, vision,

The loss of
dopamine in certain
parts of the brain
causes the muscle
rigidity typical of
Parkinsons
disease.

Some drugs that

increase the level of
GABA in the brain
are used to treat
epilepsy and to calm
the trembling of
people suffering
from Huntingtons
disease.

Molecular
Structure

and many other

cortical functions. It
also regulates
anxiety.
Glutamate is a major
excitatory
neurotransmitter that
is associated
with learning and
memory.

It is also thought to
be associated with
Alzheimers disease,
whose first
symptoms include
memory
malfunctions.

Norepinephrine is a
neurotransmitter
that is important for
attentiveness,
emotions, sleeping,
dreaming, and
learning.
Norepinephrine is
also released as a
hormone into the
blood, where it
causes blood vessels
to contract and
heart rate to
increase.

Norepinephrine
plays a role in
mood disorders
such as manic
depression.

Serotonin contribute
s to various
functions, such as
regulating body
temperature, sleep,
mood, appetite, and
pain.

Depression,
suicide, impulsive
behaviour, and
agressiveness all
appear to involve
certain imbalances
in serotonin.

Disorders/Disease
Alzheimers disease is a brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking
skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It begins slowly and
gets worse over time. Currently, it has no cure.
Alzheimer's is not a normal part of aging
Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia
Alzheimer's has no current cure, but treatments for symptoms are
available and research continues.
Stage 1: Normal Outward Behavior
Stage 2: Very Mild Changes
Stage 3: Mild Decline
Stage 4: Moderate Decline
Stage 5: Moderately Severe Decline
Stage 6: Severe Decline
Stage 7: Very Severe Decline
Parkinson's disease (PD) Paralysis agitans, Shaking palsy is a type of
movement disorder. It happens when nerve cells in the brain don't produce enough
of a brain chemical called dopamine. Sometimes it is genetic, but most cases do not
seem to run in families. Exposure to chemicals in the environment might play a role.

Trembling of hands, arms, legs, jaw and face

Stiffness of the arms, legs and trunk
Slowness of movement
Poor balance and coordination

There is no lab test for PD, so it can be difficult to diagnose. Doctors use a
medical history and a neurological examination to diagnose it.
ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, a condition with
symptoms such as inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The
symptoms differ from person to person. ADHD was formerly called ADD, or attention
deficit disorder. Both children and adults can have ADHD, but the symptoms

always begin in childhood. Adults with ADHD may have trouble managing time,
being organized, setting goals, and holding down a job.

Sadness or downswings in mood are normal reactions to lifes struggles, setbacks,

and disappointments. Many people use the word depression to explain these
kinds of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness.
Some people describe depression as living in a black hole or having a feeling of
impending doom. However, some depressed people don't feel sad at allthey may
feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic, or men in particular may even feel
angry, aggressive, and restless.
Whatever the symptoms, depression is different from normal sadness in that it
engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep,
and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are
intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief.
Signs and symptoms of depression include:
Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak outlooknothing will ever
get better and theres nothing you can do to improve your situation.
Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in former hobbies, pastimes,
social activities, or sex. Youve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or weight gaina change of
more than 5% of body weight in a month.
Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in the early hours of the
morning, or oversleeping (also known as hypersomnia).
Anger or irritability. Feeling agitated, restless, or even violent. Your tolerance
level is low, your temper short, and everything and everyone gets on your nerves.
Loss of energy. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. Your whole body
may feel heavy, and even small tasks are exhausting or take longer to complete.
Self-loathing. Strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. You harshly criticize
yourself for perceived faults and mistakes.
Reckless behavior. You engage in escapist behavior such as substance abuse,
compulsive gambling, reckless driving, or dangerous sports.
Concentration problems. Trouble focusing, making decisions, or remembering
things.
Unexplained aches and pains. An increase in physical complaints such as
headaches, back pain, aching muscles, and stomach pain.

Anxiety is the bodys natural response to danger, an automatic alarm that goes off
when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a stressful situation.
In moderation, anxiety isnt always a bad thing. In fact, anxiety can help you stay
alert and focused, spur you to action, and motivate you to solve problems. But
when anxiety is constant or overwhelming, when it interferes with your
relationships and activities, it stops being functionalthats when youve
crossed the line from normal, productive anxiety into the territory of
anxiety disorders.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of anxiety disorder, but general

symptoms include:
Feelings of panic, fear, and uneasiness
Problems sleeping
Cold or sweaty hands and/or feet
Shortness of breath
Heart palpitations
An inability to be still and calm
Dry mouth
Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
Nausea
Muscle tension
Dizziness
Stimulants increase alertness, attention, and energy, as well as elevate blood
pressure, heart rate, and respiration.
A depressant, or central depressant, is a drug or endogenous compound that
lowers neurotransmission levels, which is to depress or reduce arousal or
stimulation, in various areas of the brain. Depressants are also occasionally
referred to as "downers" as they lower the level of arousal when taken.
Analgesics are medicines that relieve pain. Narcotics, such as morphine, and synthetic narcotic drugs,
such as methadone, may be used for pain relief.

LSD, peyote, psilocybin, and PCP are drugs that cause hallucinations, which are
profound distortions in a person's perception of reality. Under the influence of
hallucinogens, people see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem
real but are not.

http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/i/i_01/i_01_m/i_01_m_ana/i_01_m_ana.html
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/psychology/courses/1010/mangels/neuro/transmission/t
ransmission.html
http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_what_is_alzheimers.asp
http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/guide/alzheimers-disease-stages
https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/parkinsonsdisease.html
http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-signs-and-symptoms.htm
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders
http://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts