Our internal body clock, the circadian rhythm, regulates our sleep-wake cycles. Histamine, a chemical substance produced by specific cells in the brain, plays a vital role in this process, helping us stay awake and focused during the day.
Not just that, histamine is a multitasker neurochemical
- It keeps us alert and attentive
- Influences how the brain perceives pain, causing allergic reactions and inflammation in the body. Dr Priyank Vasavada, a neurosurgeon at the M S Ramaiah Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru, says: “[when histamine is released], it can cause various effects in the body such as itching, nasal congestion and airway congestion. It also serves as a neurotransmitter in the nervous system.”
- It has a say in the release of hormones from the pituitary gland
- Governs the feelings of hunger and satiation, modulating food intake
- Plays a role in memory and cognitive functions
In the adult brain, histidine and the enzyme histidine decarboxylase come together to produce histamine. This happens in neurons, mast cells and microglia cells.
The prominent role of histamine as a wake-promoting substance has drawn interest in treating sleep-wake disorders, especially narcolepsy (extreme drowsiness during the day). We feel drowsy when we take anti-allergy medicines because the drug targets the histamine receptors and binds to them.
Alterations in histamine levels in the brain are observed in various neurological and psychiatric health conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, depression, convulsions and seizures.
The following infographic captures some aspects of this vital neurotransmitter’s role in the body.
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