'Dopamine has emerged as a fundamental regulator of inflammation. In this regard, it has been shown that dopaminergic signalling pathways are key players promoting homeostasis between the central nervous system and the immune system. Dysregulation in the dopaminergic system affects both innate and adaptive immunity, contributing to the development of numerous autoimmune and inflammatory pathologies. This makes dopamine receptors interesting therapeutic targets for either the development of new treatments or repurposing of already available pharmacological drugs. ...'
Abstract from: (available online) J Neuroimmune Pharmacol. 2019 Jan 19. 'Targeting the Dopaminergic System in Autoimmunity.'
Recently I have been thinking 'I have no dopamine at all !!!' Of course this is totally 'unscientific' I just feel that way - ie. 'flat as a tack' with low in energy and motivation. All this is no surprise given 'deathly fatigue' is intrinsic to PMR/GCA and most of us feel 'low' on and off just having to negotiate this/these disease(s) let alone all the other stuff which might be going on in life as we experience it.
But there is some scientific research such as cited above, which indicates that dopamine is implicated in inflammatory and some autoimmune diseases here in relation to 'inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease' although I have not yet seen any research which discusses the likelihood of a link to PMR/GCA.
Still I am keeping my eyes open and in the meantime TRYING to be more 'cheery'. I am aware of course even the 0.5 mg taper I have just done (to 10.5 mg - my lowest ever dose in nearly 3 years of GCA) is enough to make me rather 'down'.
Best wishes to everyone
Rimmy
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Rimmy
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I am sorry you have hit a low Rimmy! You and me both. I admire your continuing research into why this is occurring, which shows an energy of sorts that isn’t quite flat. I told myself a story about this illness that wasn’t quite true ie it’s finite, this should be the last lap and I will return to my normal self. Perhaps this chapter hasn’t been written yet. I do think that there is a growing interest in GCA and PMR and the Immune system in general, and autoimmune diseases in particular I hope that answers will be forthcoming. Especially when our doctors stop thinking in silos and begin to look at patients as a whole, connected, entity. We are interesting to researchers as a statistically significant number in this forum and seem to be approached to participate in research projects quite a lot.
I love your posts and the wisdom that you impart. Sending you a big hug from one flattened body and spirit to another. Still living in hope though. 💜
Thanks Jane - I also appreciate your contributions here and today especially this :
'I do think that there is a growing interest in GCA and PMR and the autoimmune system in general, and answers will be forthcoming. Especially when our doctors stop thinking in silos and begin to look at patients as a whole, connected, entity. '
Not holding my breath but we must keep encouraging them. This whole thing about the 'silo-ing' of human knowledge has a LOT to answer for . As a mature-aged Uni student (I was 30) in the 1980's I talked my Anthropology and History lecturers into allowing me to write 1 'big' essay (the same one that is) to satisfy both their requests (for shorter separate essays). They agreed - and both gave me the same great mark - much to the annoyance of many of my fellow students who thought I had somehow circumvented the system. Thing is it was obvious - especially within the social sciences that numerous interrelationships could and SHOULD have been made. Harder of course to interconnect the so-called 'soft' and 'hard' sciences - but it is happening much more often these days (hooray).
If you like this line of thought ( turning out well rounded truly educated and multi disciplinary thinkers and problem solvers )
We was blown away by a young woman From Haifa recently.
You can learn about her , too!
She started out in medicine, but switched to architecture/ design/ engineering and is currently at MIT Boston.
She’s very interested in art, yes for arts sake- but way beyond that. She’s experimenting with bio engineering structures on a small scale- using silk worms for threads for their strength. Beautiful art sculptures- but what could they be used for in engineering applications?
Reduction of carbon footprints? Where is the future headed?
She changed from medicine to this- her brain amazed me.
I’m an ex educator- a linguist. My husband is an architectural engineer. Our daughter just graduated from Princeton with a PhD in Bio ocean chemistry and she is a climate scientist. She just published in September in Nature . You can look it up on September Princeton news somewhere in AOS ( Atmosphere and oceanic science department at Princeton. She’s a post doc researcher working at Princeton currently.
This woman at MIT ticks every box for our brains.
The program is on Netflix- called Abstract. It’s about design- different mediums by top professionals that have raised to the top in their fields in various mediums- photography, Technology...
What a wonderful response Kelly - great to hear about these young women )one being your own daughter) and all the possibilities that are raised with such expansive and interconnected thinkers and most importantly 'actors'. At times when the future looks 'grim' while humanity struggles with our own limitations - even our own institutionalised 'categoricities' - which can rigidify potential for insights - it is reassuring to know there are people in the world who have somehow transcended the usual limitations. Hopefully the future of humanity will become a reflection of these integrated forms of 'intelligence' and I can see more women at the forefront of this !!
Love it! Reminds me of my philosophy final where we selected four questions from a number supplies and I realized as I was finishing the answer to the first question that it flowed seamlessly into the second, so in the end I submitted an essay rather than four disconnected answers - and got a good mark! A small university I know well has a Foundation Year Program where first year sudents are taught with all subjects relating to the others. Wouldn't it be refreshing if medical students were also given a holistic grounding, and also a lot of practice in communicating with patients!
Can't remember where but I'm sure there is one that takes a system and teaches the physiology/anatomy/biochemisty/medicine that applies. Going to drive me up the wall trying to remember where I came across it now!
Truly good educators seek curriculum with this end goal - where it crosses disciplines and in the end ( hard to define where that is- call it graduation from secondary school of that’s your wheel house) - and all rivers lead to the sea.
Who was the eastern philosopher who said true enlightenment is the moment when the wave realizes it is actually the sea itself?
This should be how great physicians see the patient. ( and humanity around them. And we in turn see our doctors. They are struggling very often also and I think often we forget to see it. When we do- we open very good relationships with our doctors.)
Thanks so much Rimmy! “Feeling flat” perfectly describes my state right now. Not much interest in anything. I think after going through the blackouts and fires in California I just have no dopamine left! I’ve battlled depression a lot in my life and been on and off anti-depressants, but this feels different, more physical? I will check out this book as I’m struggling right now to get back on low-carb and even walking. I don’t want to add another drug for depression, I’ve had difficulties getting off them.
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that I'm interested in, it seems to crop up so often when I read up on what ails me, seasonal affective disorder and migraines for a start. The SSRIs that boost serotonin seemed to be the only antidepressant that helped me. However recently I've been taking low dose amitriptyline for fibromyalgia and I do feel that gives my mood a bit of a boost on top of the fluoxetine. I may be wrong but I think I read amitriptyline boosts dopamine. Maybe I'll look at a dopamine boosting diet too.
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