title: Neuronutrient Amino-Acid Therapy Protects Against Reward Deficiency Syndrome: Dopaminergic Key to Homeostasis and Neuroplasticity.
abstract: Willuhn et al., observed that habitual cocaine use was correlated with reductions in D2/D3 receptors linked to decreased cue activation in occipital cortex and cerebellum. Dopamine agonist therapy maintains dopamine function and is a relapse prevention tactic focused on psychoactive drug and behavioral addictions. Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) with emphasis on glutaminergic medications fails in the long-term treatment of Reward Deficiency Syndrome Behaviors (RDS). While the careful use of "dopamine antagonist-therapy" short-term is supported, the research-based concept of "dopamine agonist therapy" in long-term is proposed. Neurogenetics and epigenetics are important in understanding treatment response and clinical outcomes. The neuro-mechanisms involving "dopamine homeostasis" are key to understanding recovery from drug and non-drug addictive behaviors. For example, patients who carry the DRD2 A1 allele (30-40 less D2 receptors) should consider Neuronutriant-Amino-Acid therapy (KB220 variants) a prevention modality. DRD2 A1 allele carriers show amplified striatal function of L-amino acid decarboxylase, prior to dopamine biosynthesis. Another example is the effect of Acute Tyrosine Phenylalanine Depletion (ATPD) on decision-making and reward found carriers with amino-acid deficiency (ATPD). They experienced attenuated reward and reduced decision-making ability as quantified by Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Future research should be directed at asking the question; Would "dopamine agonist therapy" using KB220 variants reduce methylation and increase acetyl groups to enhance DRD2 expression especially in DRD2 A1 allele carriers and lead to increased dopamine function and a reduction of drug and non-drug seeking behaviors?
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Box 100183, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors: Kenneth
authors: K
authors: Blum
authors: Marcelo
authors: M
authors: Febo
authors: Rajendra D
authors: RD
authors: Badgaiyan
authors: Eric R
authors: ER
authors: Braverman
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Dushaj
authors: Mona
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Zsolt
authors: Z
authors: Demetrovics
mesh_terms: D000596:Amino Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine