Posted by linkadge on January 16, 2011, at 19:29:41
In reply to Re: How is testosterone connected to depression? » linkadge, posted by SLS on January 16, 2011, at 18:58:00
I didn't say that men necessarily had higher dopamine levels, only that increasing testosterone relative to estrogen appears to increase dopamine/serotonin (*in certain brain regions). The way that gender regulates neurotransmitters, however, is undoubtedly complex. For instance, perhaps the influence of other sex hormones would temper the effect of testosterone.
I was not aware than men had a higher risk for Parkinson's disease. However, with Parkinsons disease, the distruction of dopaminergic neurons might not really be related to the level of dopamine per se. So, even if men had higher basal dopamine levels, this might not be expected to be protective against parkinons. Actually, the inverse may be true, as the metabolism of dopamine can, in some instances, produce oxidative byproducts i.e. in a manner similar to how l-dopa may hasten the progression of parkinsons.
Nevertheless, men also have higher rates of severe treatment resistant schizophrenia. Along these lines, I think one study showed that estrogen levels are inversely related to treatment resistance in schizohprenia - that is, estrogen seems protective against schizophrenia severity.
Estrogen can be neuroprotective. SSRIs appear to reduce the neurotoxicity of high dose amphetamines, perhaps increasing serotonergic function somehow buffers against increased dopaminergic function?
I really don't know.
Linkadge
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