What is this glutamate in our brain? Let's talk about it simply!

Have you ever wondered how many amazing things happen inside our brains? How we learn, how we remember things, how we feel happy and sad... All of these are influenced by the small chemical processes that occur inside our brains. Today we are going to talk about a very important chemical that is indispensable to the functioning of our brains. That is Glutamate .

What exactly is Glutamate?

Simply put, glutamate is a chemical messenger that helps communicate messages between the nerve cells in our brain. Like a postman, he carries messages from one nerve cell to another. In medicine, we call these messengers ``neurotransmitters.''

Now look, there are several types of these `neurotransmitters`. Some of them calm nerve cells, some of them stimulate nerve cells, that is, increase their activity. So glutamate is the main stimulating ` neurotransmitter` in our brain . That is, glutamate is the one that tells nerve cells to ``get to work now!'' That is why glutamate is essential for our brain to function properly.

Think about it, there are special cells in our brain called `glial cells`. These cells collect the used glutamate, convert it into another chemical called `glutamine`, and help the nerve cells make glutamate again when it is needed. It is like `recycling`.

Another thing, have you heard of `gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)`? This is the `calming` ` neurotransmitter` in our brain. This `GABA` helps us sleep well, keep our minds relaxed, and reduce unnecessary anxiety. Surprisingly, glutamate also helps to make this `GABA`.

Glutamate is not just a `neurotransmitter`. It is an `amino acid`. `Amino acids` are the little building blocks of proteins. In fact, glutamate is the most abundant `amino acid` in our bodies. These are produced and stored in our muscles.

Also, you've probably heard of ``Monosodium glutamate ( MSG )'', right? It's what's in Ajinomoto, which makes food taste good. So, glutamate is something we're familiar with from there too.

How does glutamate work in our brain?

Okay, now let's look at how this glutamate carries messages inside our brain. Think of our neurons as long wires. At the end of each neuron, called the axon terminal, are little sacs called synaptic vesicles. Inside these sacs are thousands of glutamate molecules.

Now, when a message comes along a nerve cell, the electrical charge in that message causes the bag containing the glutamate to burst, and the glutamate comes out. This glutamate comes out into a very small gap between two nerve cells . This gap is called a `synapse.` On the other side of the nerve cell, there are special `receptors` to receive this glutamate message. Just like a key fits into a lock, the glutamate molecules go and connect to these `receptors.` When they connect, some change, some action, happens in the other nerve cell. That's how the message goes from one cell to another.

Surprisingly, unlike other ``neurotransmitters,'' glutamate can bind to four different ``receptors''! Like a master key, it can open four locks. This means that glutamate can communicate with many different nerve cells in many different parts of the brain. In fact, glutamate is responsible for 90% of the excitatory activity in our brain.

In our brains, nerve cells come together to form small `circuits`. Some are for small tasks like memory, and some are for large, complex tasks like vision , hearing, and movement. It is this glutamate that carries chemical messages through these circuits and networks. Depending on how glutamate acts at the `synapse`, the communication between nerve cells can be strengthened or weakened. That determines whether the task in question will be carried out properly or not. If glutamate is not released in the right amount, in the right places, and at the right time, the communication is impaired. Also, if glutamate becomes too much, it can damage nerve cells and the network through which messages are transmitted.

What does glutamate do to our bodies?

Glutamate has several important functions in our body, especially the brain:

• Learning and memory: We mentioned earlier that glutamate can bind to four ``receptors.'' This allows messages to be sent quickly and efficiently between nerve cells. This rapid signaling and information processing is crucial for learning and memory. Glutamate also helps nerve cells store and store related information. This is the basis of memory.
• Energy source for brain cells: The main energy source for our brain cells isGlucose. However, when glucose levels are low, brain cells can also use glutamate for energy.
• Chemical messenger: This is the main function of glutamate. It carries chemical messages between nerve cells.
• Sleep-wake cycle manager: Animal studies have found that glutamate levels increase when we are awake, during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, that is, during dreaming sleep.
• Pain signaler: It has been found that when glutamate levels increase, the perception of pain also increases.

What causes increased glutamate in our brain?

Sometimes, our brains can have too much glutamate. This can be due to several reasons:

• Excessive release of glutamate from nerve cells.
• Glutamate is released directly from the glial cells in the brain, adding to the total amount of glutamate in the brain.
• There is excess glutamate left in the gap between nerve cells (the `synapse`). Then many glutamate `receptors` remain active, and nerve cells continue to be stimulated.
• The 'receptors' in nerve cells are overly sensitive to glutamate. This means that even a small amount of glutamate is enough to stimulate them.

What happens if glutamate increases?

If the amount of glutamate in the brain increases too much, nerve cells can become overstimulated. This overstimulation can damage or even kill brain cells. In such cases, glutamate is called an ``excitotoxin.'' That means something like ``something that stimulates and poisons .''

There are several medical conditions that are associated with increased levels of glutamate in the brain. Here are a few examples:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease)
• `Multiple Sclerosis`
• `Alzheimer's disease`
• `Parkinson's disease`
• `Huntington's disease`
• `Stroke`
• `Fibromyalgia`
• `Chronic Fatigue Syndrome`

There are also mental health problems that are thought to be caused by problems with either the production or use of glutamate:

• `Mood and anxiety disorders`
• `Autism`
• `Depression`
• `Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)`
`Schizophrenia is emotional .

What happens if glutamate is low?

Just as high levels of glutamate are problematic, low levels of glutamate in the brain are also problematic. It is thought that this can lead to the following:

• Difficulty concentrating.
• Mental exhaustion.
• Insomnia.
• Low body strength.

Finally, things to remember

So, you probably now understand how important a neurotransmitter glutamate is to our brain and central nervous system. Our brains cannot function properly, especially learning and memory, without glutamate.

The most important thing is that glutamate must be present in exactly the right amount, in the right places, and at the right time.

If there is too much glutamate in the brain, in the wrong place, in too much concentration, and for too long, it can damage or even kill brain cells. Some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Huntington's disease, are associated with excessive stimulation of nerve cells by glutamate. Similarly, mental health problems, such as autism, depression, and schizophrenia , may be related to problems with either the production or use of glutamate.

So, if you have any doubts or questions about this, it's best to talk to your doctor. They can give you the right advice. The brain is a very complex thing, so it's very important to take care of it.

` Glutamate, brain, neurotransmitters, learning, memory, mental health, neurological diseases