What Is A Neurotransmitter Test?
The extensive Neurotransmitter Test is a urine profile assessment, checking levels of 6 neurotransmitters or ‘Brain Chemicals’: serotonin, GABA, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, and glutamate. These 6 neurotransmitters are the most researched in relation to their effects on mood disorders, hormones, sleep, glucose/insulin balance, pain perception, appetite, and cognitive function.
Low or high levels of neurotransmitters may be observed in various mental health disorders, such as depression, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Parkinson’s disease and panic attacks.
Testing Neurotransmitter Levels: Which Chemicals Are Tested?
Serotonin
In the Central Nervous System, Serotonin is believed to play an important role as a neurotransmitter in the regulation of anger, appetite, body temperature, mood, sexuality and sleep. Low levels may be associated with aggression, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, impulsivity, irritability and sleep disorders.
Dopamine
Is believed to be involved in the regulation of pleasure and reward, memory, motor control, sleep, mood, attention and learning. Lowered dopamine has been associated with loss of satisfaction, social withdrawal, apathy, reduced motivation and attention. In addition, low dopamine levels can result in impaired motor control, e.g. Parkinson’s disease. High levels of dopamine may result in aggression, Schizophrenia, hyperactivity and Tourette’s syndrome.
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid)
Is concentrated in the hypothalamus region of the brain and is known to play a role in the overall functioning of the pituitary gland – which regulates growth hormone synthesis, sleep cycles, and body temperature.
Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and adrenaline (epinephrine)
Are excitatory neurotransmitters as well as hormones. They are most well known for their involvement in the ‘fight and flight’ response, in which they increase heart rate, trigger the release of glucose from energy stores and increase blood flow to skeletal muscle. Low levels contribute to a decrease in mood, energy, focus, motivation and memory. High levels may be associated with aggression, anxiety, emotional lability, hyperactivity, mania, stress and suppression of the immune system.
Glutamate
Is involved in most aspects of normal brain function including cognition, memory and learning.
NEUROTRANSMITTER TEST PRICING
If you are struggling with mood disorders, anxiety or depression, make an appointment with one of the team to have a Neurotransmitter Assessment and let us help get to the bottom of your symptoms.
Book an online consultation or a face to face appointment at our Brisbane or Graceville clinics and let us help you understand what may be causing your mood issues and develop a treatment plan to support you.
Nutritional Medicine can have a profound effect on balancing and supporting healthy neurotransmitter levels. You can book your appointment here.
FAQs About Neurotransmitter Testing
Neurotransmitter testing is a non‑invasive diagnostic method - most commonly using a urine sample - that assesses the levels of key brain chemicals. At Perpetual Wellbeing, our Neurotransmitter Test Profile evaluates six critical neurotransmitters: serotonin, GABA, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline and glutamate. These substances influence mood, sleep, appetite, cognitive function, pain perception and hormone balance.
Imbalances in neurotransmitters may manifest through a variety of psychological and physical symptoms. These can include mood disturbances (such as depression or anxiety), sleep disruptions, difficulty concentrating, altered appetite, fatigue, pain sensitivity and hormonal irregularities.
Yes - stress can significantly alter brain chemistry. Chronic stress can disrupt neurotransmitter systems, particularly serotonin and dopamine, impairing mood, cognition and emotional regulation. Structural changes may also occur in stress-sensitive brain regions, such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Direct measurement of these neurotransmitters in the brain is challenging due to the blood–brain barrier. Instead, testing typically focuses on measuring metabolites (breakdown products) in urine or blood samples, serving as indirect indicators of neurotransmitter activity. While these tests offer useful insights, they must be interpreted cautiously and in context with clinical findings.
Serotonin is a multifaceted neurotransmitter that plays roles in regulating mood, appetite, sleep, learning, memory and social behaviour. While much of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut, the proportion in the brain is critical for emotional stability and cognitive function.
While direct brain measurements are not feasible outside research settings, functional tests such as urine-based neurotransmitter metabolite profiling provide valuable insight into neurochemical status. These tests, combined with clinical assessments and additional investigations, enable tailored interventions to correct imbalances.
What We Can Help With
The team at Perpetual Wellbeing support the health and wellbeing of the whole family. We promote a more scientifically-based approach to natural healthcare, to help detect the root cause of health issues and treat patients for long-term good health.
Digestive Complaints
The team at Perpetual Wellbeing are digestive or gut health specialists, and can help with conditions including food intolerances, IBS,…
Hormonal Imbalances
All the practitioners at Perpetual Wellbeing have expertise in treating hormonal issues and can support you with concerns relating to…
Allergies & Intolerances
The team at Perpetual Wellbeing offer food allergy and food intolerance testing. There are many reasons as to why one…
Female Health Issues
The team at Perpetual Wellbeing have a special interest in female hormone issues and offer various female hormone imbalance test…
Mood Disorders
Our practitioners may utilise various tests to help establish the root cause of mood imbalances. Neurotransmitter levels, Adrenal dysfunction, nutrient…
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