Here is another article linking thyroid and dopamine problems, but this time making more direct links of iodine deficiency with Parkinson's Disease.
Here are some interesting excerpts:
"Conclusions. Long-term iodine deficiency appears linked to abnormalities in the dopaminergic system that include an increased number of dopamine receptors. It is argued that this raises susceptibility to dopamine oxidation which, in turn, causes deficiencies of the antioxidants. Dopamine deficiency also leads to elevated cytotoxic glutamate levels. Implications of the iodine-dopachrosme-glutamate hypothesis, for treatment of these three neurologic disorders, are then discussed. Possible interventions include various antioxidants, iodine and glutamate antagonists."
"The Iodine-Dopamine Connection
Overstreet and colleagues demonstrated that male rats, raised on iodine-deficient diets, developed an abnormally high (28% increase) number of dopamine receptors in the striatum. Gilbert has argued also that long exposure to a lack of iodine, seen for example in many Africans and Chinese, results in a crucial dopamine-thyroid action that slows cell timing mechanisms. Certainly, dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are consistently elevated in Parkinson’s diseased striata from patients who have not been medicated premortem with levodopa."
"While, as yet, the evidence is not conclusive, it suggests that early iodine deficiency may cause abnormalities in the dopaminergic system and so increase susceptibility to some dopamine-related diseases, such as Parkinsonism, later in life. Certainly there is a link between dopamine and the thyroid since Kaptein and colleagues have shown that dopamine reduces serum TSH and aggravates low thyroxine levels in patients for whom it is prescribed"
"Implications for Treatment
"Parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis each appear to involve an iodine deficiency before and immediately after birth, which affects the dopaminergic system. In adulthood, this abnormality seems to increase susceptibility to the oxidation of dopamine and to an associated glut of cytotoxic glutamate. If this hypothesis is correct, it implies treatment avenues that should be further explored."
"There would also seem to be a role for glutamate antagonists in all three disorders. Finally, given the apparent relationship between iodine and dopamine, it seems logical to further explore the value of this mineral in the treatment of these neurologic diseases"
Researchers have discovered that a type of brown seaweed, commonly called winged kelp, can block the misfolding of a protein in the brain which is connected to the emergence of the central nervous system disorder.
Iodine is a necessary nutrient for thyroid function and to inhibit goiter. Many other conditions are also linked to low iodine, including ADHD, pregnancy loss, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other nervous system diseases. Iodine deficiency is more common than we realize. Infants are at risk for brain damage when their mothers have low amounts during pregnancy.
The food that boasts the highest amount of iodine is sea vegetables. Sea vegetables may not sound that appealing, and you may not know how to prepare, them but they are quite simple and delicious. Iodine is also in seafood, strawberries, cow milk, yogurt and meat (supplemented in animal feed), cranberries, prunes, boiled eggs, navy beans and canned tuna. You can also take supplements with the supervision of your doctor (over-consumption of iodine supplements can also lead to health risks.
I have Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism so, depending on which we page I am on I should either stay away from iodine or supplement with iodine. As I take selenium (something else I should either stay away from or take) I also add some powdered seaweed to my large matcha tea every other day.
Hello Bolt~ Have you read “Iodine, Why You Need It” by David Brownstein? It’s very interesting! Good information. He is an MD and he talks about Hashimoto’s.
Really interesting information you’ve posted, thank you. Your post mentioned about Glutamate Antagonists being part of the interventions for PD, my husband takes Amantadine to help with dyskinesia and it seems to help him. I shall read up on the other aspects of this research.
Note that the ecological level data mentioned in this paper are OLD, before iodized salt was introduced, a public health intervention that drastically decreasing iodine deficiency rates in the US. And watch out: hyperthyroidism (associated with too much iodine) appears to be a risk factor for PD. Bottom line: have your iodine levels tested before assuming a deficiency. ec.bioscientifica.com/view/....
My understanding is that seaweed lowers the oestrogen level and that remove a heavy burden from COMT enzyme's shoulder so SOME PwPD can benefit from their dopamine being efficiently converted to its metabolites due to less pressure on COMT. Why I say some PwPD is beacuse there are genetic tendencies involved (Slow COMT or Fast COMT or even normal). In my opinion people with a normal OR slow COMT can benefit from the seaweed while people with fast COMT may experience their dopamine converted to its metabolites too quickly.
What does COMT enzyme do?
One of several enzymes that degrade catecholamines (neurotransmitters such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine), catecholestrogens, and various drugs and substances having a catechol structure. In humans, catechol-O-methyltransferase protein is encoded by the COMT gene.
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He is on daily medication (Armour), but he also takes all of the listed supplements. 
Waking up dormant dopaminergic neurons to reverse Parkinson's disease
Iodine, anyone?
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