Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter or messenger that affects the brain, body, and behaviour. It relays messages between nerve cells, which travel between the brain and the rest of the body. Dopamine is also called a ‘feel-good’ hormone that is associated with pleasure as part of the brain’s reward system.

What role does dopamine play?

Dopamine has multiple brain functions, including regulating sleep, heart rate, movement, mood, memory, pain processing, blood vessel function, learning, attention, and lactation. It also influences arousal, motivation, reward, sodium and urine removal, insulin production, gastrointestinal content movement, and protection of the GI lining. Dopamine is involved in the body’s fight-or-flight response to stress.

Signs and symptoms of low dopamine (dopamine deficiency)

Low dopamine can result in concentration challenges, mood swings, memory loss, sleep problems, or a low sex drive. You might also experience fatigue, unhappiness, gastrointestinal symptoms (constipation), social withdrawal, and demotivation with low DA levels. Some symptoms are associated with Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. However, adequate dopamine levels contribute to happiness, alertness, focus, and motivation.

What causes low dopamine?

Dopamine levels are generally regulated in the nervous system. However, when these levels are dysregulated, it can cause depression. Low levels of dopamine might result from an injury to areas of your brain that make the hormone, sleep deprivation, drug abuse, Parkinson’s disease, or if your body doesn’t respond well to dopamine.

What are some conditions linked to dopamine levels?

High or low dopamine is associated with Parkinson’s disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obesity, and restless leg syndrome. Your healthcare provider will assess you, diagnose these conditions, provide additional information, and recommend a course of treatment.

How can you increase your dopamine levels?

Five ways you can improve your dopamine levels are below:

1. Include magnesium- and tyrosine-rich foods in your diet, such as chicken, leafy greens, almonds, apples, sesame and pumpkin seeds, avocados, tomatoes, chocolate, bananas, beets, lima beans, oatmeal, oranges, turmeric, watermelon, and wheat germ.
2. Do activities that help you relax or feel happy. Meditation, yoga, massage, playing with a pet, exercise, walking in nature, or reading a book might help.
3. Get adequate sleep to keep your dopamine levels balanced.
4. Listen to music to stimulate or boost dopamine levels in the brain.
5. Spending time in the sun can increase dopamine levels, but avoid doing so during peak hours (10am & 2pm).

Low dopamine can affect your physical and mental health. If you think you have low dopamine levels, contact your doctor. You can use Find Yello to search for doctors, healthcare specialists and hospitals.

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Sources: Verywell Mind, Cleveland Clinic, Healthline, NCBI, and WebMD.