علاقة اضطراب نشاط النواقلات العصبية ببعض الاضطرابات السلوكية

This review article investigates the relationship between the dysfunction of three neurotransmitters (Ach, 5-HT, DA) and some behavioural disorders; namely Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. A meta-analysis of the findings on hand highlights that there is a relationship between acetylcholine (Ach) deficiency and Alzheimer’s disease, serotonin (5-HT) deficiency and depression, and dopamine (DA) deficiency and Parkinson’s disease. On the other hand, excessive limbic dopaminergic activity is associated with positive schizophrenic symptoms. Psychoactive drugs that mimic the effects of the neurotransmitters in question are prescribed to restore the normal activity of neurotransmitters, and hence alleviate the symptoms characteristic of the related behavioural disorders.