Glutamate, the underappreciated neurotransmitter
Plus stories about the algos...
Hey everyone,
I wanted to share a couple of stories with you this week - a quick look at what's going on with the algorithms that shape what you see online.
My social media guy has been doing some YouTube shorts for me lately that have gotten 500 to 1500 views. We did one last week that only got 4 views. Very strange. The video mentioned glyphosate in the title, so I deleted it, changed the description and title, and then re-uploaded it. Again, virtually no views on the short. The content of the video, though, was about a study on negative effects of glyphosate with genetic interactions. It wasn't controversial, in my mind, or even all that interesting...
If you look at what is available on YouTube about glyphosate, the top of the search page is all ads for buying glyphosate. There are a couple of well-known health people who have videos on glyphosate that come up in the search, but I can't help but wonder how many other people have had their videos suppressed.
Second story - I tried to post some excerpts from studies on the role of glutamate in activating platelet aggregation on the Genetic Lifehacks Reddit group yesterday. These were studies that I came across when researching the new glutamate article (below). I also added excerpts from studies on how and why glutamate levels are elevated in covid. I put in the post that I wondered if elevated glutamate played a role in clotting in covid or long covid. However, the Reddit post immediately got a "Sorry, this post was removed by Reddit filters" notification. I'm still not sure what triggered the removal. There was nothing controversial that I could see - just excerpts from research studies.
My point here is to encourage you to always keep digging when looking for information on a topic.
We don't know what we aren't seeing... The answer to your question may be out there and just not easy to find.
I also wanted to ask you all for some help! I'm going to hire my 'social media guy' full time to do more of my administrative type of work. This will free up my time to write more articles and implement several new features on the site. However, I'm stepping out in faith that I'll be able to continue to afford this. Could you help me out over the next few months by telling a friend or posting about Genetic Lifehacks on your social media groups?
Gratefully yours,
Debbie
Glutamate: Synthesis, transport, and supplement interactions
Key takeaways:
~ Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter in the brain and periphery.
~ Cells can make glutamate from glutamine or alpha-ketoglutarate.
~ There are genetic variants that impact glutamate levels a bit, but overall, glutamate levels are tightly controlled by multiple pathways.
~ Altered glutamate signaling is implicated in schizophrenia, OCD, and migraines.
What is glutamate?
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS). It’s important for learning, memory, and mood, but it’s not as well known as other neurotransmitters like dopamine or serotonin.
As an excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate is essential for learning, attention, and focus – but too much glutamate causes too much stimulation in the brain. A balance between stimulation and inhibition is needed.
Let’s look at the research on how glutamate is synthesized, what receptors it binds to, and why it is so important for cognitive function.
How glutamate is synthesized:
Glutamate is the most abundant free amino acid in the brain.[ref] As an excitatory amino acid, glutamate levels are strictly controlled by several mechanisms. Glutamate can be synthesized from multiple sources and can also be converted into other neurotransmitters or amino acids. These pathways interact to keep glutamate levels at the right balance.
Agmatine: Neuropathic pain, back pain, mood disorders, and more
Key takeaways:
~Agmatine is a compound created in the body that acts within neurons.
~ Studies show that it may be helpful for neuropathic pain, depression, and brain function.
~ Clinical trials in humans are few, though, which is something to consider when looking at the benefits of a supplement.
What is Agmatine?
Agmatine is produced in the body from the essential amino acid L-arginine. It is found in plants, bacteria, and animals. In humans, agmatine is produced throughout the body, acting as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator.
The amino acid L-arginine is converted to agmatine, an amine, using the enzyme agmatine decarboxylase.
In the brain, agmatine has neuroprotective effects by protecting against excitotoxicity. Some research points to it blocking the NMDA receptors and also inhibiting nitric oxide production in the brain. Protecting the brain against excess excitation may be beneficial in dementia, depression, and schizophrenia.[ref]
New on Longevity Lifehacks:
Serine for cognitive enhancement
Latest substack article on why serine plays a role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. I dig into how serine is used in the brain and how it interacts with the NMDA receptors and glutamate.
What I've been reading:
1) The biological responses of vitamin K2: A comprehensive review
A comprehensive new review paper on vitamin K2 that covers MK-4, MK-7, and MK-9 and all of the different roles of vitamin K in the body. There's an overview of many different clinical trials using vitamin K.
2) Breathtaking News for Depression and Schizophrenia
There's a new breath test for butyrate and triethylamine levels that can identify depression and schizophrenia with 80 percent accuracy. While that accuracy rate isn't all that high for a diagnostic test, it really points to the role of the gut microbiome and inflammation in mood disorders.
Just in case anyone is looking for a comprehensive book on Histamine Intolerance... Yep, still pushing my new book :-)
Paperback (Amazon) Kindle (Amazon) Digital (.pdf)