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Summary ~ Neurotransmitters and hormones exist in a very delicate balance. ~ Changing one often results in a cascade of other changes ~ Mood and cognitive symptoms may be caused by problems with a variety of different neurotransmitters or hormones ~ Aging naturally reduces certain hormones and consequently neurotransmitters ~ Differential diagnoses requires exploring the possibility of a deficit in a neurotransmitter or hormone due to ~ Insufficient raw materials to make it ~ Deficiency in other chemicals that trigger its release ~ Excess of chemicals that degrade it or trigger reuptake ~ Problems in neuronal signaling within the system. ~ The human body is extremely complex ~ Symptoms of mood and cognitive disorders can be caused by a variety of problems in physiological systems ~ Cognitions and emotions can trigger the HPA-Axis and alter the functioning of internal systems and set off a cascade. ~ Effective treatment of mood and cognitive disorders requires addressing all physiological as well as psycholog