NEUROTRANSMITTER PURINES
1- ADENOSINE
When we are awake, a chemical called adenosine accumulates in our brain. And this hormone binds to receptors that slow down the activity of the brain. Finally, the more adenosine accumulated at those receptors, the tired the brain will feel more. The longer we stay awake, the more we feel tired.
On the other hand, adenosine intensity decreases during sleep. This slowly increases alertness. The structure of adenosine is very similar to that of caffeine in the coffee we drink. Therefore, when caffeine passes through your circulatory system and goes to the brain, it binds to receptors by competing with adenosine there. But since caffeine isn't actually adenosine, you won't feel sleepy and adenosine can no longer bind to receptors and so its calming effects are reduced.
Adenosine, a purine, is normally found in the brain at low concentration. It inhibits the spontaneous and increased activity of many neurons in the brain. Many years ago, adenosine has been found to have a
calming effect on animals. Bob McCarley, who works at Harvard Medical School, has revealed that adenosine plays a major role in sleep, especially in sleepiness. When Bob McCarley and his friends kept the cats awake by playing games, they found in the forebrain that there was increased adenosine outside the cell, and when they allowed the cats to sleep, the adenosine gradually returned from high levels to normal levels.
The researchers also found that giving adenosine to the basal forebrain made the animals sleep. Adenosine may be below the perceived weakness caused by lack of sleep. According to the findings of Robert Strecker, McCarley and colleagues from Harvard Medical School, a disturbance was detected in the attention test performed by injecting adenosine into the basal forebrain of mice. However, it is not right to think that adenosine levels are the main reason for sleep deficiency in terms of effects on the brain and body.
NOTE: Dipyridamole is a reuptake inhibitor of adenosine.
2-Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
NAD or "Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide"; it is a naturally occurring niacin enzyme that helps cells in our body produce energy. Like the lack of oxygen and glucose, NAD deficiency leads the cell to death. It converts the energy we take from food into cellular energy.It increases the cell's energy level and increases the cell's resistance to disease. It increases the defense mechanism of our body as much as possible.
NAD increases your body's serotonin levels, a neurotransmitter associated with mental regulation, and can improve symptoms of depression and anxiety.
NAD is beneficial for individuals treated for substance abuse and addiction recovery. This treatment reduces the desire for substance use and withdrawal symptoms, energizes the body and accelerates brain regeneration.
Among other functions, NAD plays an important role in delaying aging. NAD works on the energy-producing element of the cell, the mitochondria, and increases the length of telomeres, which are protective caps, located at the ends of the chromosomes, which become shorter as the body ages.
The body naturally produces NAD; however, the overall levels of coenzyme decrease over time, leading to cellular changes that lead to age-related pathologies. If the NAD level is sufficient, DNA is protected from damage.
Post-traumatic stress
Worry
Depression
Brain damage caused by various reasons
Alzheimer's
Parkinson's
Cancer
Neurodegenerative diseases (such as ALS, brain cell loss… etc)
Using alcohol and drugs
Aging… etc
For the reasons I mentioned above, the amount of natural NAD decreases. In this case, our body cannot produce enough energy and diseases and NAD deficiency begin to destroy cells.
NAD Therapy provides more mood and awareness by energizing the individual. It has also been claimed to slow the aging process. In addition, with the received NAD, the quality of life of the cells improves and the DNA that manages our body is saved from harm. NAD treatment, the main purpose of which is to protect the person from diseases; ALS, whose treatment has not yet been completed and has not ended with healing, is used as an adjunctive therapy in diseases such as degenerative brain disease, cerebral palsy, diabetes. The aim is to increase the amount of energy; to reduce the harm of cells and prevent death.
3-ATP
Much of the ATP energy is used in cytosol to preserve ion gradients from the membrane and support the cycle of neurotransmitters, thereby pumping sodium and potassium through the cell membrane to support electrophysiological activity and cell signaling in the brain. ATP metabolism, which regulates both ATP production and use, plays a key role in cerebral bioenergetics, brain function, and neurodegenerative diseases.
