5 Effective Ways to Address Dopamine Deficiency: Expert Tips

Dopamine deficiency refers to low levels of dopamine in the brain which can adversely affect our emotional responses and movements. This can cause dopamine deficiency syndrome, which is a hereditary movement disorder. It is an extremely rare condition.

What Is Dopamine Deficiency?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that regulates our motivation, pleasure and reward system. It is also associated with memory, learning and motor system function.

According to a 2016 study ¹, “Dopamine (DA) plays a vital role in reward and movement regulation in the brain.”

Researchers from another study ² explain “DA plays multiple functions in the brain.”

However, unbalanced or low levels of dopamine can result in various severe mental and physical health conditions.

Although we may not be able to accurately measure the dopamine levels in our brain, low levels of DA and irregular DA activity can lead to certain symptoms and ailments, such as Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), schizophrenia, depression and addiction.

The indicators of dopamine deficiency may be the following:

Low production and release of dopamine
Insufficient dopamine receptors
Dopamine receptors are malfunctioning or impaired
Dopamine is not being efficiently recycled
Dopamine is not being broken down properly

Although dopamine deficiency is not seen as a separate medical diagnosis, it can cause Dopamine deficiency syndrome in some cases, which is a rare medical disorder.

Read More About Dopamine Here

Dopamine Deficiency Syndrome

One of the primary conditions caused by low DA is the Dopamine deficiency syndrome. This rare movement disorder, also known as a Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS) and Infantile Parkinsonism-Dystonia, has been identified as the first inherited dopamine transportopathy ³.

“DTDS is a recently described neurotransmitter disease that is classically characterized by an infantile onset, complex progressive motor disorder that is pharmacoresistant and life-limiting,” explains a 2014 study ⁴ on DTDS.

The condition is known to be progressively worsening, early infantile-onset parkinsonism and dystonia. It is regarded as extremely rare as there have been only 20 confirmed patients of DTDS mentioned in medical literature, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

It is believed that this syndrome may be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed as the symptoms tend to be common with movement disorders, like cerebral palsy. Hence, it is believed that the condition may not be as rare as believed earlier.

DTDS severely affects an individual’s ability to control or move their muscles and body. Generally, the symptoms of this syndrome start to appear in infancy but in some cases they may appear later in life.

As of now, there is no specific cure for DTDS. However, opting for treatment that focuses on managing the symptoms can be helpful in the long term.

Understanding DTDS

Dopamine deficiency syndrome usually develops during infancy and worsens progressively over time. However, sometimes the symptoms may become noticeable only in childhood or later.

Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome can cause dystonia, which is a condition marked by persistent, involuntary muscle contractions. These contractions often impact various muscle groups, causing continuous spasms and cramps.

This leads to everyday tasks like eating, walking, drinking and even talking with someone become extremely challenging and disruptive. become As a result, everyday tasks like walking, eating, drinking, and even speaking can become extremely difficult and disruptive to daily life.

The affected person may eventually develop parkinsonism as the condition becomes worse. Parkinsonism is characterized by various movement abnormalities may occur, including bradykinesia (unusually slow movements), muscle rigidity, tremors, and postural instability, making it difficult to maintain balance or keep the body upright.

DTDS can adversely affect a person’s lifespan.

However, researchers are yet to identify the long-term effects of this syndrome on the patients.

The development of dopamine deficiency syndrome is regarded as a continuum as it involves early-onset DTDS, where the symptoms arise in the first 6 months; and atypical later-onset DTDS, where onset occurs in childhood, adolescence or even adulthood.

If the symptoms arise later in life, then it may continue into adulthood.

Symptoms Of Dopamine Deficiency

Some of the major and most commons symptoms associated with DA deficiency are the following:

1. Physical symptoms

Here are some general signs of low DA levels in the brain:

Muscle stiffness
Muscle cramps
Bradykinesia (excessive slow movement of muscles)
Tremors
Aches and pains
Muscle spasms
Constipation
Weight gain or weight loss
Restless leg syndrome
Changes in coordination
Unmanageable eye movements
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Frequent pneumonia
Trouble swallowing
Difficulty with eating food
Difficulty sleeping or disturbed sleep
Difficulty holding the body in an upright position
Loss of balance when standing or walking

2. Psychological symptoms

Low levels of DA may also cause the following psychological symptoms as well:

Difficulty focusing or concentrating
Persistent low energy levels
Lack of motivation
Ongoing fatigue
Feelings of sadness or a consistently low mood
Hopelessness
Frequent and unpredictable mood swings
Low self-esteem
Anxiety and restlessness
Overwhelming feelings of guilt
Experiencing hallucinations
Holding false or delusional beliefs
Limited or absent self-awareness
Signs of depression
Problems with working memory
Inability to experience pleasure (anhedonia)
Symptoms associated with dementia
Traits linked to schizophrenia
Indicators of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Thoughts of self-harm or suicidal behavior

3. DTDS symptoms

Apart from the common signs of dopamine deficiency, here are some specific symptoms ⁵ of Dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS):

Parkinsonism
Elevated carboxylic acid levels in the blood
Abnormal pyramidal tract signs
Loss of speech
Slowness of movement (bradykinesia)
Cerebral palsy
Decreased spontaneous movement (hypokinesia)
Chronic constipation
Involuntary movements (chorea)
Reduced facial expression (hypomimia)
Increased muscle tone in the limbs (limb hypertonia)
Decreased muscle tone in the trunk (truncal hypotonia)
Episodes of upward eye deviation (oculogyric crisis)
Involuntary mouth and facial movements (orofacial dyskinesia)
Difficulty with feeding

Causes Of Dopamine Deficiency Syndrome

Low levels of Dopamine Deficiency can be a result of a variety of factors such as poor, unhealthy lifestyle of serious health issues.

Some of the common triggers of dopamine deficiency are the following:

Poor, unhealthy diet and eating habits
Pre-existing health conditions
Consuming insufficient protein6
Obesity
Alcohol withdrawal
Stress ⁶
Drug abuse

However, the dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS) is believed to be caused by various factors, some of which are mentioned below:

1. Mutations in the SLC6A3 gene

Researchers believe that DTDS may be caused by the SLC6A3 gene ⁷ mutations.

This gene promotes the production of the protein known as dopamine transporter (DAT) ⁸, which is embedded in the membrane of specific neurons or nerve cells in the brain. This helps in transporting DA into the cell which regulates movement control, behavior, motivation and cognition.

Mutations in the SLC6A3 gene lead to functional impairments in the DAT. This leads to a deficiency of functional dopamine transporter and affects DA signaling in our brain.

According to the 2014 study on DTDS, “Dopamine transporter mutants also showed diminished dopamine binding affinity, reduced cell surface transporter, loss of post-translational dopamine transporter glycosylation and failure of amphetamine-mediated dopamine efflux.”

It is yet to be known how dopamine signaling changes cause certain movement abnormalities seen in individuals with DTDS even though dopamine helps to regulate movement.

However, the age of onset is believed to be associated with the intensity of impairment in the function of the dopamine transporter.

2. Autosomal Recessive Inheritance

According to a 2011 study ⁹, the inheritance of dopamine deficiency syndrome is autosomal recessive ¹⁰ and is related to impaired dopamine transporter function.

The researchers explain “dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome is the first identified parkinsonian disorder caused by genetic alterations of the dopamine transporter.” Autosomal recessive is a pattern in which a disorder is passed down among first-degree family members.

An autosomal recessive pattern indicates that two copies of the gene mutations must be present for the disorder to develop. Each parent of the affected person with the autosomal recessive disease carries one copy of the abnormal gene.

However, the parents usually do not show any symptoms of the disorder. According to a 2017 study ¹¹, “Hereditary dopamine transporter deficiency syndrome (DTDS) is a neurotransmitter disorder caused by a defect in the neuronal uptake of dopamine.”

Other Conditions Associated With Dopamine Deficiency

Apart from DTDS, low levels of dopamine can also cause a range of other mental and physical health issues.

Studies ¹² show that dopamine deficiency is associated with a number of different psychiatric and neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease ¹³, Alzheimer’s disease ¹⁴, schizophrenia and drug addiction, such as cocaine and amphetamine.

Low DA function is also related to Huntington’s disease and attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD) ¹⁵.

A 2019 study ¹⁶ explains that dopamine signaling pathways are potentially involved “in evoking the onset and progression of some diseases in the nervous system, such as Parkinson’s, Schizophrenia, Huntington’s, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, and Addiction.”

Studies ¹⁷ reveal that dopamine deficiency is also linked with obesity and pathological eating. Researchers ¹⁸ believe that “low brain DA activity in obese subjects predisposes them to excessive use of food.”

Low DA levels also increase the risk of a number of mental health disorders schizophrenia, depression and addiction. According to a 2014 study ¹⁹ found that dopamine abnormalities have been found to be involved in schizophrenia. Research ²⁰ also shows that DA levels also play a significant role in depression.

A 2017 study ²¹ in major depressive disorder and anhedonia revealed that “Anhedonia is considered a core feature of major depressive disorder, and the dopamine system plays a pivotal role in the hedonic deficits described in this disorder.”

Scientists have also found that dopamine deficiency has a strong influence on addiction and addictive behaviors as well. “As a result of habitual intake of addictive drugs, dopamine receptors expressed in the brain are decreased,” explains a recent study.

Diagnosis Of Dopamine Deficiency Syndrome

Diagnosing dopamine deficiency can be challenging, primarily because there’s no reliable way to directly measure dopamine levels in the brain. This difficulty is compounded when dealing with rare genetic disorders, which are often complex to identify.

However, healthcare professionals use a combination of tools to assess potential dopamine imbalances. These include evaluating a patient’s medical and family history, lifestyle factors, symptoms, as well as conducting physical exams and lab tests.

While blood tests can measure dopamine levels, they don’t reflect how the brain is responding to dopamine. For a more detailed assessment, doctors may analyze cerebrospinal fluid to detect certain acids related to dopamine metabolism.

This process is known as creating a neurotransmitter profile. In cases of suspected Dopamine Transporter Deficiency Syndrome (DTDS), blood samples can also be tested for genetic markers.

Additionally, the Genetic Testing Registry (GTR) provides valuable information on available genetic tests for diagnosing DTDS.

Because dopamine levels can be influenced by various underlying health conditions, doctors often prioritize symptom evaluation over direct dopamine testing. If you suspect you might have a dopamine deficiency, it’s important to consult a medical professional.

While there may not be a specific cure, the symptoms of dopamine deficiency can often be effectively managed with the right treatment and support.

Treatment Of Dopamine Deficiency Syndrome

There is no standardized or established treatment plan for DTDS. The doctor needs to work closely with the patient to determine what treatment approach and medications may work through trial and error.

According to studies ²², other movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, which are also related to dopamine production, can be effectively treated with levodopa (L-Dopa) ²³, the precursor to dopamine, to relieve symptoms.

Researchers have used the dopamine antagonists pramipexole ²⁴ and ropinirole ²⁵ to treat dopamine deficiency syndrome as these medications help to relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in adults.

Although there has been some success, further research is necessary to understand the long-term and short-term side effects.

Apart from medications, counseling and physical therapy to improve movement difficulties and muscle stiffness can be effective as well. Moreover, certain lifestyle and diet changes can also help to improve dopamine in the body and relieve the symptoms.

Some helpful strategies to overcome dopamine deficiency are:

Eating protein-rich foods, like fish, meat, eggs, dairy, soy, legumes, nuts and seeds, as the amino acid tyrosine ²⁶ helps to boost DA levels.
Avoiding consuming foods that are high in saturated fat and sugar.
Getting enough sleep as undisturbed sleep ²⁷ helps to produce DA.
Engaging in exercise ²⁸ and physical activity on a regular basis.
Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation ²⁹ to avoid stress.
Consuming probiotics ³⁰ to promote DA production.
Listening to instrumental music ³¹ to promote dopamine release in the brain.
Taking vitamin ³² and mineral supplements.

However, it’s important to note that there is no solid evidence to support the idea that dietary changes or home remedies can effectively treat dopamine deficiency syndrome.

Overcoming Dopamine Deficiency

Dopamine deficiency can lead to various physical and psychiatric health issues, including Dopamine Transporter Deficiency Syndrome (DTDS). Since there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of dietary changes or home remedies, the most reliable approach to managing dopamine deficiency is seeking prompt medical care.

If you suspect that you or someone you know may have low dopamine levels, it’s essential to consult a doctor and follow the recommended treatment plan closely. With proper medical intervention, such as prescribed medications and physiotherapy, dopamine deficiency symptoms can be managed and improved over time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are major signs of low dopamine?

The major signs of low dopamine are – lack of motivation, anxiety, mood swings, low sex drive, depression, constant fatigue, sleep disturbances and loss of focus.

2. Does sunlight increase dopamine?

Yes, sunlight has been shown to boost dopamine levels. The skin absorbs sunlight and produces Vitamin D and this process is known to trigger production of dopamine and serotonin.

3. What foods are high in dopamine?

Foods rich in phenylalanine and tyrosine are known to contribute to dopamine production. Foods rich in these amino acids are eggs, fish, pork, diary, beef, chicken, nuts, seeds, bananas and avocados.

Dopamine Deficiency

Table of Contents

What Is Dopamine Deficiency?

Dopamine Deficiency Syndrome

Understanding DTDS