Neuro Melanin: The melanin in the brain

Melanin is a pigment that gives your skin a dark hue. Darker-skinned people produce more melanin.

But did you know that your brain produces melanin, and it is linked to neurodegenerative diseases?

The melanin made in your brain is called neuromelanin to distinguish it from the pigment made in your body.

Neuromelanin gives your brain a dark hue, much like your skin. As you age, you release more neuromelanin, giving your brain a progressively darker hue.

If your brain shows the absence of this pigment, it is a marker for Parkinson’s disease.

But you may ask - what is the connection between a pigment and Parkinson’s?

A loss of motor control is a hallmark of Parkinson’s. Trembling hands, shuffling feet.

One reason attributed to this condition is a loss of receptors for dopamine. Dopamine, you will recall, is your reward hormone.

Loss of these receptors causes motor impairment.

One theory is that neuromelanin plays a role in the strengthening of these receptors.

So if you do not produce enough neuromelanin, your ability to regulate your receptors is affected leading to loss of motor control.

Obviously, the moot question is can you reverse this condition?

Some studies indicate that exercise, especially moderately intensive exercise helps produce more neuromelanin.

Another study suggests that autophagy, which occurs when you fast improves the production of this pigment in the brain.

Fasting for more than sixteen hours, with the recommended duration being three days, without water.

None of these are conclusive.

The most likely prevention is to strengthen synaptic connections. Strenthening connections occur when you use the brain to do novel tasks over and over again.

The simplest way to understand this is - use it or lose it.

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