top of page

What is Dopamine?

  • Writer: Engage PT, OT, SLP Therapy and Wellness
    Engage PT, OT, SLP Therapy and Wellness
  • Jun 26, 2021
  • 1 min read

Updated: Nov 20, 2021

Parkinson's is caused by damage in the part of the brain which is responsible for making dopamine. You may be wondering ... dopa what? Dopamine is a signaling chemical (neurotransmitter) in the brain. Dopamine plays a role in:

  • Coordinating your movements

  • Motivation

  • Memory and learning

  • Experiencing pleasure and pain

  • Keeping you awake and alert during the day

(All really important things...right?)

Dopamine is made in a specific part of the basal ganglia called the substantia nigra. As Parkinson's progresses, the cells in the substantia nigra are damaged and less able to make dopamine. Typically by the time motor symptoms start, your dopamine production is down by 60-80%. There is an imaging technique called a DAT scan which looks at the dopamine levels in this part of the brain. This can not tell if you have PD, it can only tell that you have low levels of dopamine. This is why medications like carbidopa-levadopa and dopamine agonists (chemicals that are like dopamine) can help with the symptoms of PD. The main difference between levodopa and dopamine agonists is that levodopa is converted in the brain to dopamine and dopamine agonists act like dopamine without having to be converted to dopamine.

Decreased dopamine in your brain can actually make it harder to stay engaged, focused and motivated to do everyday tasks. Besides medication, there are other things you can do to help with this. In research with mice, it has been found that exercise can help the brain use dopamine more effectively. Exercise has also been found to increase a chemical called GDNF (glial-derived neurotrophic factor), which can help decrease how vulnerable dopamine neurons are to damage.


 
 
 

Comentarios


Engage Logo
Engage your Brain,
Move your Body,
Feel Better

Specialties

Community

Company

Syracuse: 3175 East Genesee Street Suite 5

Syracuse, NY 13224

Liverpool: 4886 West Taft Road

Liverpool,  NY 13088

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

© 2022 Engage PT, OT, SLP PLLC

NOT MEDICAL ADVICE DISCLAIMER:  None of the content on this website constitutes medical advice.  If you have concerns about any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare provider. In case of medical emergency, you should call 911 immediately.

NO PROVIDER-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP: This website does not create or constitute a provider-patient relationship between you and any of our providers and does not create any duty for any provider to follow up with you.

bottom of page