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Arvid Carlsson was born in Uppsala, Sweden in 1923. Dr. Carlsson, a pharmacologist, is best known for his contributions on the neurotransmitter, dopamine, for which he won the Nobel Prize in 2000 for Medicine/Physiology. The co-recipients were Dr. Eric Kendel and Dr. Paul Greengard.
Dr. Carlsson entered Medical School in 1941 and his education was interrupted by several years of service in the Swedish armed forces. In 1951, he finished the M.L. degree, now equivalent to M.D. in North America. Later, he became a Professor at the University of Lund. In 1959, he moved to Goteborg University.
In 1957, Dr. Carlsson showed that dopamine was a neurotransmitter in the brain and not just a precursor of norepinephrine.[1] This was the prevailing view at that time. He also developed an assay to measure dopamine in the brain and found that the highest regional concentration existed in the basal ganglia. This finding led to his experiments on reserpine, which depleted dopamine and produced a loss of movement control. These symptoms were similar to the clinical symptoms seen in the neurological illness, Parkinsonism.[2,3] He did not end his investigations there, and showed that L-dopa, a precursor of dopamine, was effective treat symptoms of Parkinsonism. L-dopa is still one of the mainstays of drug treatment in Parkinsonism.
Dr. Carlsson was also instrumental in developing the ‘dopamine theory of schizophrenia’[4,5] and the role of dopamine in the development of extrapyramidal side-effects of antipsychotic medications. Inhibition of central dopamine function is a basic property common to many to antipsychotic drugs. The mesolimbic and nigrostriatal portions of the dopaminergic system are probably the main targets for the psychological and the extrapyramidal actions, respectively, of these drugs. The fact that dopaminergic hyperfunction induced by amphetamines or L-dopa may lead to a disturbance mimicking paranoid schizophrenia, further supporting the role of dopamine in mental function. Although a primary disturbance in dopamine function in schizophrenia cannot be ruled out, the intimate relationship between dopaminergic and other neuronal systems should be studied in more detail. The possible involvement of other amine, amino acid or peptide transmitters in schizophrenia cannot be disregarded. For example, there is now a large body of evidence supporting dysfunction of the glutamate receptors in schizophrenia.
Dr. Carlsson was also among the first researchers of the antidepressant compound, zimeldine, which was the first selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor. The precursor of this drug was brompheniramine. Here, one should note that he did substantial work on the synthesis and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) in the central nervous system.[6] However, zimeldine produced a serious neuro logical side-effect, Guillian-Barre syndrome, in a few patients and thus was withdrawn from the market. Thirteen cases of the Guillain-Barre syndrome were reviewed in an article in which the authors showed that all occurred with a similar relationship to treatment with zimeldine. The risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome was increased about 25-fold among patients receiving zimeldine, as compared with the natural incidence of the disorder. These cases substantiate strong evidence that Guillain-Barre syndrome may occur as a specific, probably immunologically mediated, complication of drug therapy.[7]
In the aging brain, there is a reduction of the levels of several transmitter substances and of the activities of enzymes involved in their synthesis and/or catabolism.[8] Carlsson stated that the sensitivity to the aging process varies for different transmitters and brain regions and that the dopamine neurons were more age-sensitive than most other neurons investigated by him. The metabolism of monoaminergic neurotransmitters is increased in the aging brain, as seen by increased metabolite/neurotransmitter ratios, and he suggested that this may compensate for the loss of the transmitter. In various types of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT), there is a decrease in levels of several neurotransmitters as compared to age-matched controls. Recently observed changes in the lipid composition of the white matter, indicating demyelination, in the brains of patients with AD/SDAT, stress the importance of studying multifactorial aspects of dementia. Dr. Carlsson also emphasized that preventive measures may reduce the toxicity of oxygen and of autoxidation products in the brain.[9]
It is interesting to note that Dr. Carlsson opposed fluoridation of water as it is a violation of modern pharmacological principles, and he succeeded in his campaign along with hundreds of other scientists. It is also important to note that the incidence of dental caries was the same in Sweden as compared to fluoridated countries such as the USA. As British Columbia in Canada was considering fluoridation of water, Carlsson said, ‘I would advise against fluoridation. He reiterated that individual prophylaxis (treatment) is preferable on principle grounds and that it is equally effective’.[10]
1. Carlsson A. Thirty years of dopamine research. Adv Neurol. 1993;60:1–10.[PubMed]
2. Carlsson A. Basic concepts underlying recent developments in the field of Parkinson's disease. Contemp Neurol Series. 1971;8:1–31. [PubMed]
3. Carlsson A. Speculations on the control of mental and motor functions by dopamine-modulated cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical feedback loops. Mount Sinai J Med. 1988;55:6–10. [PubMed]
4. Carlsson A. Does dopamine play a role in schizophrenia? Psychol Med.1977;7:583–97. [PubMed]
5. Carlsson A. Antipsychotic drugs, neurotransmitters, and schizophrenia. Am J Psychiatry. 1978;135:165–73. [PubMed]
6. Carlsson A, Bedard P, Lindqvist M, Magnusson T. The influence of nerve-impulse flow on the synthesis and metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine in the central nervous system. Biochem Soc Symp. 1972. pp. 17–32. [PubMed]
7. Fagius J, Osterman PO, Siden A, Wiholm BE. Guillain-Barre syndrome following zimelidine treatment. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1985;48:65–9.[PMC free article][PubMed]
8. Carlsson A. Brain neurotransmitters in aging and dementia: Similar changes across diagnostic dementia groups. Gerontology. 1987;33:159–67. [PubMed]
9. Carlsson A, Adolfsson R, Aquilonius SM, Gottfries CG, Oreland L, Svennerholm L, et al. Biogenic amines in human brain in normal aging, senile dementia, and chronic alcoholism. Adv Biochem Psychopharmacol. 1980;23:295–304. [PubMed]
An endless series of disconnected moments where we are random bags of flesh and bones going bump against one another in a never ending battle of survival? Or a mind bogglingly complex and indescribably beautiful cosmic drama in which God unfolds as Unity and Multiplicity all at once?
Ready for this?
I feel that Life is a choice! In all its strange-broken ways, life is unfolding perfectly if you can look at it with enough altitude. The only reason it appears broken is because our thinking rational mind is far too ill equipped to appreciate the intelligence that gives birth to this cosmic drama. It is a choice we have made and it is a choice we make each moment: individually, collectively, globally, universally. We have chosen to be here at this time, chosen to play within these specific set of circumstances, chosen to participate… however incredible that may seem right now, however that may piss you off right now.
Life is a choice and we choose to play it one way or the other.
We can choose to be lazy, spend quarter of a life time watching the television broadcast real and fantasy fear, hatred, cruelty, drama, struggles and fight… and get brainwashed into labeling other humans into every conceivable form of stereotype imaginable, re-create what we are watching into our own personal lives and then blame our spouses, children, government, God, fate, parents for our miserable situation.
Or we can choose to say, “This is madness! Have we all gone completely out of our freakin’ minds?” And we can study and learn.
We can learn to be silent, we can learn to meditate, we can learn to forgive, we can learn to love. And we can learn to awaken that power within us that can turn our everyday lives into a constant adventure filled with magic and miracles, an adventure where the whole universe conspires to help us awaken to higher and higher states of consciousness and evolution.
In my experience, there is nothing called “fate written on stone” somewhere. Destiny is defined by the choices we make in life. And we make those choices every day, every moment of our lives. If you think there is something called no-choice, you are sadly mistaken; no-choice is a powerful choice, it is the choice to sit and not take action. There is a consequence for every choice we make, whether it is to sit and be lazy, or actively align ourselves with the force of Destiny.
God unfolds within us, but not as an actor of a story already written, but as a dynamically evolving drama which gets written throughout many universes, moment by moment, as we pick up the phone and dial a number…
Kring, kring…
(The following is taken from my diary written many years back when I had successfully managed to become penniless after wrecking my business, was running around in the streets of Singapore, being sued in court, with a huge debt on my head, and not enough money to buy food. What came out is something that didn’t make a lot of sense to me back then. But as I read it today, puts a smile on my face.)
“Hello… God?”
“What’s up?”
“You… right? You are what’s up.”
“Well, I’m up and down all around. Don’t forget people of Australia. What is up for you is down for them.”
“Right… I got a question… why did you create the Universe?”
“I didn’t create the Universe, I am the Universe.”
“Ok, then why did you create me?”
“I didn’t create you either. Two of me, your mom and dad, decided to create another me, which is you! Wasn’t that a funny sentence?”
“Not sure, the joke is lost on me. Hey, let me ask you this, why is life difficult?”
“It’s not! Life evolves. Like people grow, like flowers bloom, like universes expand.”
“So why do we have to struggle so much? To be loved, to make money, to raise a family, to keep friends?”
“You shouldn’t have to. Do you know how babies grow, flowers bloom and universes expand all without struggle?”
“How?”
“By being in harmony with life.”
“How do you be in harmony with life?”
“By paying attention. Pay attention dear one! The answer is all around you. There are plenty of people who already know this secret. Learn from them. Learn from the rain, the sun, the stars and the wind. Pay attention. The moment you begin to listen, the music is all around to guide you forward. The moment you stop pushing and relax yourself, you will feel the gentle flow of the Universe. Stop thrashing and start flowing. Take a deep breath and listen to the silence. Soon you will hear the soft humming from soul of the world”
“Anything else?”
“Yep… stop judging and start loving. The less you judge, the more energy you will have.”
“You mean, even if someone steals my car, I shouldn’t judge?”
“Yep, don’t judge. But don’t be an idiot either. Do what needs to be done yet never put anyone out of your heart. Our greatest misfortunes are nothing but calls for evolution. The tiger eats the deer that eats the grass which feeds on both the tiger and deer when they die. None of them judge the other. All is One.”
“Ok, last question, I’m sure you are busy…”
“Not really, I’m just having fun being all of you all at once. And since I got a wicked sense of humor (have you noticed?), and also since I can see the whole story unfold beyond time and space, I’m on a joyride here. But go on, what’s your question?”
“Erm… how do I get in harmony with the Universe, at the same time do everything in this world like make money etc?”
“Study. Study like you are going to die tomorrow. The more you study, the better you understand the rules of this game, which are not so complicated, really. Study and pay attention.”
“Pay attention to what?”
“Signs, synchronicities, messages, miracles… it’s all around. Stop trying to act so logical for once and trust the child inside. Be childlike, follow the butterfly just because you like the color on its wings and see where it leads you. Stop trying to make everything go the way your ego mind wants it to go. Go with the flow and watch the miracles unfold. Go with the flow and watch the adventures begin. Go with the flow and allow me to tell you what to do next. There are so many fantastic adventures I can lead you to, if only you pay attention and keep taking the next steps forward.”
“Hmm… ok thanks God. Is there anything else I should know?”
“There are literally infinite amount of things you will know eventually, but for now here is one that will help: I love you. I am you. By your very nature you cannot fail, all you can do is learn. The more you learn, the more fun you will have in this great adventure called life. And in the end, it will all be good. If it’s not, it’s not the end.”
If you have a dream, protect it. Nurture it with music, poetry, stories and books that inspire, food and daily care, focus and perseverance… like a child. We wait 9 months for a child to be ready to come out in the world, 9 more years for the child to speak logically, and 9 years more to become a mature adult ready to serve the world. Dreams become ready to serve with a lot less work and a whole lot faster. But you have to give it some time… and protect it from the virus called disbelief.
The moment you have a dream and believe in it, it begins to grow. The longer you believe, the bigger it grows. The more you feed it love and action, the faster it grows. And one day, before you know it, its a real thing that is so big, so beautiful, so powerful, so amazing… that it takes your breath away!