loading . . . The Hidden Dopamine Pathway Behind Brain Fog and ADHD This video explains how dopamine is made in the brain, why the dopamine synthesis pathway can slow down, and how tyrosine, BH4, iron, and vitamin B6 influence dopamine production.
In this episode, Dr Sanil Rege takes a clinicianโs approach to dopamine biology and shows why dopamine should not be thought of as a simple โhigh vs lowโ chemical. Instead, he explains dopamine as a biological production line: substrate, gate, and throughput. The video walks through the core dopamine synthesis steps, the key enzymes involved, and the cofactors required for the pathway to function properly.
This is especially relevant for people interested in ADHD, brain fog, low motivation, fatigue, reward dysfunction, psychopharmacology, and the overlap between nutrition, stress physiology, and mental health.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:04 What dopamine is made from
03:11 The 2 key enzymes in dopamine synthesis
04:31 The core cofactors: BH4, iron and vitamin B6
05:48 BH4 recycling, oxidative stress and vitamin C
06:58 A practical mental model: substrate, gate and throughput
07:50 Clinical implications: ADHD, depression, sleep, burnout and inflammation
09:18 Should you supplement?
What this video covers:
1. How dopamine is synthesised from phenylalanine and tyrosine
2. Why tyrosine hydroxylase is the rate-limiting step
3. The role of BH4, iron, and active vitamin B6 in dopamine production
4. Why oxidative stress and physiological strain can affect neurotransmitter throughput
5. Why symptoms like fatigue, low reward responsiveness, poor initiation, and attentional instability are not dopamine-specific
6. How to think about blood tests, iron studies, supplementation, and clinical context without oversimplifying the picture
7. When supplementation may help, and when self-supplementation can be risky
Whether you are a clinician, a patient, or simply interested in neuroscience, this video offers a practical framework for understanding dopamine beyond internet myths and simplistic optimisation advice.
Key educational takeaways
For clinicians: this video provides a clean framework for linking biochemical pathways to formulation, symptoms, blood tests, supplementation decisions, and psychopharmacology.
For patients and general viewers: it explains why โlow dopamineโ is usually too simplistic, and why symptoms need to be understood in context rather than chased with generic supplements.
Presented by Dr Sanil Rege
Dr Sanil Rege is a consultant psychiatrist, educator, and founder of The Academy by Psych Scene, where he teaches psychopharmacology, ADHD, neurobiology, sleep, mood disorders, and clinical reasoning in a practical, evidence-based way.
๐ DEEPER LEARNING FOR CLINICIANS
For structured, clinician-level education across ADHD, sleep, neuroscience, and complex psychiatry, explore The Academy by Psych Scene:
๐ https://www.academy.psychscene.com/courses/clinical-excellence-in-adult-adhd/
#dopamine #adhd #brainfog #motivation #dopaminedetox #psychiatry #psychopharmacology #mentalhealth #neuroscience #vitaminb6 #irondeficiency #dopaminepathway #drsanilrege #psychscene #cognitivefatigue
Relevant Resources:
ADHD Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLV0KZkVDyoOEOaE9DoJgpXzCXi_0b4sZz&si=qeae_JcxvJVwUh1M
๐RESOURCES BY PSYCH SCENE:
๐The Academy by Psych Scene: PSYCHIATRY EDUCATION REDEFINED
https://academy.psychscene.com/
Revolutionary psychiatry learning.
๐Psych Scene Hub: PSYCHIATRY TEXTBOOK OF THE FUTURE
https://psychscenehub.com/
The Hub is dedicated to helping you become a better mental health professional. Our team of academic and clinical experts bring you powerful summaries, videos and interviews in psychiatry and neurosciences.
๐Psych Interview Online: REAL WORLD SKILLS FOR REAL WORLD SUCCESS
https://www.psychinterview.com/
The Psych Interview online courses offer high-quality training to help you improve your psychiatric interview skills through self-study.
๐Psych Scene Online: THE ONLINE COURSES TO HELP YOU SUCCEED
https://ranzcpexams.psychscene.com/
Learn at your own pace with the RANZCP Written Exam prep online courses.
๐Psych Scene: THE PSYCHIATRY TRAINING EXPERTS
https://psychscene.com/
Psych Scene offers specialised training and professional development for Psychiatry Trainees, Psychiatrists, General Practitioners and Mental Health Practitioners.
--
๐ฑSOCIALS
Subscribe for weekly videos on Psychiatry and Neuroscience:
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/PsychSceneHub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychiatry.excellence/
โ
๐ LETโS CONNECT!
Follow Sanil Rege on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanilrege https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SMhR9Ptkog
