6 Common Causes and Symptoms of Dopamine Deficiency

Dopamine deficiency occurs when levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine are low, affecting movement, emotions, sleep, and cognitive function. It is linked to various health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, with treatment depending on the underlying cause.

Jump to Key Takeaways.

1. Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is often associated with low levels of dopamine, and this biomarker is considered a primary disease indicator. 

Parkinson’s disease, a neurological movement disorder, causes low dopamine as it progresses. In Parkinson’s disease, neurons (nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine) are subject to damage, malfunction, or even cell death. When the cells that produce the neurotransmitter are no longer able to, dopamine levels can decrease dramatically. Low dopamine levels can make Parkinson’s disease symptoms worse, leading to further progression. 

2. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Research has found a connection between low dopamine levels and ADHD. Low dopamine levels are not directly responsible for causing ADHD, but they can make symptoms of ADHD worse.

3. Substance Use Disorder

Drug use can change how neurotransmitters function in the brain, leading to a loss of balance in the dopamine levels. When taking certain drugs, the brain often floods with dopamine, giving people feelings of pleasure. When the drugs are used in excess, they can negatively affect how the dopamine receptors in the brain function, leading to lower levels of naturally produced dopamine.

4. Depression

Anhedonia, the inability to experience pleasure from enjoyable activities, is a core symptom of major depressive disorder. Issues with dopamine levels can lead to a loss of feelings of pleasure and cause depression symptoms.

5. Obesity

Having obesity can lead to harmful effects in various areas of the body. For example, insulin resistance and increased inflammation are both correlated with obesity. When the body is inflamed and resistant to insulin, it can decrease the brain’s ability to create, release, and use dopamine. 

6. Other Risk Factors

Other risk factors can drive low dopamine, but may not in all people. They include:

• Lack of sleep
• Stress
• Genetic predisposition
• Brain injuries

What Are the Symptoms Of a Dopamine Deficiency?

Symptoms associated with dopamine deficiency can include:

How Is a Dopamine Deficiency Diagnosed?

There is no one test available to diagnose low dopamine. Healthcare providers will take note of the symptoms you’re experiencing, as well as any diagnosed underlying health conditions.

For Parkinson’s disease, specifically, healthcare providers may suggest a test known as the DaTscan, or dopamine transporter scan. The DaTscan is an imaging test similar to an MRI that utilizes visual images of the brain to check on the function of the dopamine system by using radioactive substances that highlight the system in the scan.

How Healthcare Providers Treat a Dopamine Deficiency

Natural Ways to Increase Dopamine

There are ways increase dopamine levels via diet, as many foods contain nutrients that affect how the brain produces dopamine. Some foods to add to your diet if you’re trying to increase dopamine include:

• Bananas
• Plantains
• Avocados
• Oranges
• Apples
• Eggplant
• Spinach
• Peas
• Tomatoes

Foods that contain nutrients that can aid in dopamine production include:

• Chicken
• Beef
• Eggs
• Beans
• Dairy
• Whole grains

Another natural way to address dopamine deficiency is through exercise. Research shows that regular exercise can increase dopamine levels.

Supplements and Medications

Supplements and medications can both be taken to improve dopamine deficiency, but only specific supplements have been shown in research to be effective. One such supplement, vitamin D3, has been investigated in smaller studies for its effects on dopamine, and these studies have shown that taking it daily can increase levels.

Other nutritional supplements that may aid in dopamine production and neurotransmission include:

• Magnesium
• Vitamins B5 and B6
• Copper
• Zinc
• Iron

Probiotics such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli may also aid in the dopamine pathways by improving dopamine metabolism and making it easier for the body to produce dopamine.   

Dopamine agonists, which are used in treating Parkinson’s disease, work by acting like dopamine in the brain. They don’t necessarily restore levels of naturally produced dopamine, but make up for lost levels. Examples of dopamine agonists include Sinemet (levodopa), Requip (ropinirole), and Miraprex (pramipexole).

Key Takeaways

• Dopamine deficiency is most often associated with Parkinson’s disease, but can also be present in several other conditions, including ADHD, depression, substance misuse, and obesity.
• When diagnosing dopamine deficiency, healthcare providers typically focus on the symptoms a person is experiencing to find the underlying cause and address it directly rather than the deficiency itself.