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Vitamin D has an important role in your nervous system. It has been identified as a key factor in the development of dopamine receptors. A deficiency can lead to a change in the formation of dopamine receptors, creating certain differences in the formation of the brain. These abnormalities can lead to disorders such as schizophrenia. This paper supports the theory that continued exposure to vitamin D can increase the capacity of the body to develop dopamine receptors.
Dopamine is a type of chemical that is used by the nerve cells in our body to send messages across the body. It is involved in controlling our movement and fine motor control. It is also responsible for feelings of pleasure and our memory and learning. It does this by binding to receptors in the body that then sends a chemical signal to the body to create a certain sensation or movement. When these receptors do not function or form correctly, dopamine cannot bind and therefore our motor skills and brain functioning can be compromised. In this way, it is linked to diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia. Exposure to certain risk factors during the development of a foetus can change how dopamine receptors form, changing how they will function later in adult life. This change in functionality has been linked to the way dopamine receptors are observed in schizophrenia patients.
Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder that can be caused due to genetics or factors in the environment of an individual. Its symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganised speech, trouble with thinking and lack of motivation. However, schizophrenia is a very complex disease which we know little about. While the causes remain unknown, there is evidence that suggests that it would have something to do with the way the brain forms and functions, specifically dopamine signalling in the brain.
Researchers at the University of Queensland discovered how vitamin D deficiency can affect developing dopamine receptors. Past research has shown that a mother with a vitamin D deficiency can be linked to foetuses with brain development disorders such as schizophrenia. The researchers found that dopamine release was, in fact, better in the presence of vitamin D and that maternal levels of vitamin D affected the development and later functioning of dopamine receptors in the nervous system. These changes happen at the early stages of development of the foetus and so alter the formation of dopamine receptors, therefore, leading to disorders being diagnosed later in life.
Possible research can continue in this area concerning the relationship between vitamin D and the other processes that may lead to this disrupted dopamine signalling characteristic of schizophrenia patients. There are also other environmental risk factors to be explored, especially the development of a foetus during pregnancy.
Works Cited
Konkel, Lindsey. “Dopamine: A Neurotransmitter | Everyday Health.” EverydayHealth.com, 10 Aug. 2018, www.everydayhealth.com/dopamine/. Accessed 29 May 2023.
“Psychiatry.org - What Is Schizophrenia?” Www.psychiatry.org, www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia/what-is-schizophrenia#section_0. Accessed 29 May 2023.
Science Daily. “Vitamin D Alters Developing Neurons in the Brain’s Dopamine Circuit.” ScienceDaily, 24 May 2023, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230524182026.htm. Accessed 29 May 2023.
“Vitamin D.” Medlineplus.gov, medlineplus.gov/vitamind.html. Accessed 29 May 2023.
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