Brain monoamine neurotransmitters, which include dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A) serotonin (5-HT) hista-mine, and melatonin, play a central role in the pathophysiology of all major neuropsychiatric disorders, such as mood disorders, schizophrenia, autism-spectrum disorders, Parkinson disease (PD), epilepsy, and dementias. Ligands for the receptors acted upon by the monoamine neurotransmitters and inhibitors of the enzymes for breakdown, and the reuptake transporters have been developed as drugs, but successful therapy of neuropsychiatric disorders is limited by the high variability of the symptoms and of the responses to treatment. Few drugs are available to address specific subsets of neurological/mental symptoms and none to aid in diagnosis or to stop the progress of neurodegenerative disorders.
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