272 | id == 272
272 | category_id == 4
272 | category_order == 1
272 | category_name == Brain
272 | category_color == #C47AC0
272 | slug == COMT-anxiety
272 | title == Can This Gene Influence Your Risk of Anxiety Disorders (COMT)?
272 | meta_description == The COMT gene breaks down neurotransmitters and is associated with anxiety disorders. Learn more here!
272 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong>The COMT gene encodes a protein that breaks down the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Certain variants have been associated with anxiety disorders such as PTSD and OCD, and eating disorders such as anorexia. Read on to learn where your COMT gene stands!</strong></p>
272 | overall_score_text == Your Anxiety Disorder Risk Score (based on COMT Gene)
272 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/COMT--Anxiety-Mood-Disorders.jpg
272 | author_id == 12
272 | author_name == Carlos Tello
272 | author_title == PhD
272 | author_order == 55
272 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/CarlosTello.webp
272 | author_intro == <p><strong>Carlos received his PhD and MS from the Universidad de Sevilla.</strong></p>    <p>Carlos spent 9 years in the laboratory investigating mineral transport in plants. He then started working as a freelancer, mainly in science writing, editing, and consulting. Carlos is passionate about learning the mechanisms behind biological processes and communicating science to both academic and non-academic audiences. He strongly believes that scientific literacy is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid falling for scams.</p>
272 | author_social_media_name == linkedin
272 | author_social_media_icon == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/social-icon/linkedin.png
272 | author_social_order == 1
272 | author_social_link == https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-tello-lacal-b946b4a7/
272 | reviewer_id == 14
272 | reviewer_name == Shany Lahan
272 | reviewer_title == MS (Neuroscience)
272 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
272 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
272 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
272 | publish_date == 2020
272 | publish_date == 8
272 | publish_date == 14
272 | avg_rating == 5.0
272 | tags_id == 616
272 | tags_name == Anorexia
272 | tags_id == 112
272 | tags_name == Anxiety
272 | tags_id == 65
272 | tags_name == COMT Gene
272 | tags_id == 51
272 | tags_name == Dopamine
272 | tags_id == 53
272 | tags_name == Epinephrine
272 | tags_id == 52
272 | tags_name == Norepinephrine
272 | tags_id == 614
272 | tags_name == OCD
272 | tags_id == 6
272 | tags_name == PTSD
272 | tags_id == 615
272 | tags_name == Social Phobia
272 | permissions_favorite == False
272 | permissions_rate == False
272 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The information in this post is presented for educational purposes only, and should not be used to replace standard medical care. If you or your loved ones have symptoms of anxiety disorders, you should immediately report to a physician.</span></em></p> <h2><strong>What Is the <em>COMT </em>Gene?</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="../../../gene/comt/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene codes for an enzyme called </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">catechol-o-methyltransferase</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (also called COMT). As its name implies, COMT transfers a methyl group to catechol-containing compounds. COMT uses </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/s-adenosyl-l-methionine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">SAM-e</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as its methyl donor. Therefore, having either too little SAM-e, or too much S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) &mdash; which is formed when SAM-e loses its methyl group &mdash; results in inhibition of COMT [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8576124/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12371153/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The main function of COMT is to help break down </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">catecholamines</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a family of neurotransmitters that includes </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/dopamine/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">dopamine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/norepinephrine-stress-hormone/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">norepinephrine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (also known as </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/norepinephrine-stress-hormone/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">noradrenaline</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16878403/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT is widely distributed in organs such as the brain, adrenal glands, liver, kidneys, lungs, intestines, and mammary glands [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8027527/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8055944/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">The <em>COMT </em>gene encodes an enzyme of the nervous system that breaks down the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline by transferring a methyl group to them, from SAM-e.</span></p> <h3><strong>Catechol Neurotransmitters and Inactivation by COMT</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in multiple cognitive and behavioral processes such as executive function, </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/21-drugs-increase-motivation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">motivation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, reward, and movement control [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30446950/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Importantly, dopamine must be quickly inactivated to terminate the signal. Failing to do so is associated with many mental disorders such as schizophrenia and addictive behaviors. In most parts of the brain, this is achieved through dopamine transporters that promote its removal. </span><strong>In the prefrontal cortex, where dopamine transporters are much less abundant, dopamine breakdown by COMT accounts for over 60% of dopamine inactivation</strong><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6793120/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6672678/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Norepinephrine and epinephrine are two neurotransmitters and stress hormones released by the adrenal glands during the &lsquo;fight-or-flight&rsquo; response. They prepare the brain for stressful situations by promoting arousal, alertness, fear, and memory. Additionally, they increase heart and breathing rate, blood and sugar supply to the muscles, and blood pressure [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1959222/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although these neurotransmitters are vital for normal physiology, the sustained stimulation of their receptors increases </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/23-ways-to-combat-pain-naturally-by-increasing-your-opioids/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pain</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-anxiety/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anxiety</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">; therefore, it&rsquo;s essential to block their transmission when no longer needed. COMT plays a key role in their inactivation, especially of epinephrine. Norepinephrine is preferentially inactivated by removal, but COMT breakdown is the preferred mechanism in kidney arteries and the liver [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3426346/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8138937/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7559889/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in multiple cognitive, behavioral, and physiological processes, while both epinephrine and norepinephrine prepare the body for stressful situations. Their breakdown by COMT prevents several psychiatric disorders.</span></p> <h3><strong>Catecholamines and Anxiety Disorders</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT&rsquo;s role in the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/factors-counteract-stress-response/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress response</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has earned it the nickname the &ldquo;warrior / worrier&rdquo; gene [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17008817/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Warriors&rdquo; are people with highly active </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants. Because epinephrine and norepinephrine are released during </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, having increased COMT activity allows them to break these neurotransmitters down more quickly, which helps them recover during periods of stress.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">By contrast, &ldquo;worriers&rdquo; carry underactive variants that break down these neurotransmitters more slowly, meaning that it generally takes them longer to adapt to stress.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As will be discussed below, underactive </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants are associated with some anxiety disorders due to imbalances in catecholamine neurotransmission. These include [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4345409/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">OCD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">): a disorder with recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and the urge to do certain routines repeatedly (compulsions). People with OCD have increased dopamine and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/glutamate/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">glutamate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> activity but reduced </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-ways-to-increase-gaba/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">GABA</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/serotonin-happy-neurotransmitter/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> levels [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24840803/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3762604/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8201248/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">): a disorder with flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety caused by a traumatic event. People with PTSD have excessive levels of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and glutamate [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15539856/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26292802/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social phobia: a disorder with fear and anxiety in social situations. Imbalances in dopamine and serotonin activity seem to cause this condition [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31822819/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Anorexia: an eating disorder linked to anxiety with severe food restriction and desire to </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/a-comprehensive-list-of-effective-ways-to-lose-weight/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">lose weight</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. People with this disorder have alterations in serotonin and dopamine activity.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">People with underactive <em>COMT </em>variants have high epinephrine and norepinephrine levels. This makes them worse at coping with stress. Imbalances in catecholamine neurotransmission put them at increased risk of some anxiety disorders.</span></p> <h2><strong>Your COMT Results for Anxiety &amp; Mood Disorders</strong></h2> <p>*5390304526953149*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>SNP Summary and Table</strong></h3> <p><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>COMT </em></strong><strong>rs4680</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Normal risk of anxiety disorders</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased risk of anxiety disorders</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">41% of the world population has genotype &lsquo;GG&rsquo;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In people with European ancestry, both alleles are equally frequent</span></li> </ul> <p><strong>Other Important SNPs&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><strong><em>COMT </em></strong><strong>rs4633</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;C&rsquo; = Normal risk of anxiety disorders</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Increased risk of anorexia</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The genotype distribution is very similar to that of rs4680 for all ethnicities</span></li> </ul> <p><strong><em>COMT </em></strong><strong>rs2075507</strong></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Increased frequency of compulsive behaviors in people with OCD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Normal frequency of compulsive behaviors in people with OCD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Only 12% of the world population has genotype &lsquo;GG&rsquo;</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; variant is slightly more common among European descendants</span></li> </ul> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>*8335224263148548*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Influence of <em>COMT </em>Variants on Anxiety Disorders</strong></h2> <h3><strong>Rs4680</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By far, </span><a href="../../../snp/rs4680/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs4680</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the most widely-studied COMT gene variant. Its minor &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele encodes a less-stable protein that results in reduced COMT levels and activity [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7703232/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10581325/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In agreement with its association with the anxious &lsquo;worrier&rsquo; phenotype, the following anxiety disorders were more common among carriers of &lsquo;A&rsquo; variant at this polymorphism:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">OCD (especially in men) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26687156/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31879835/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28608575/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17264842/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19944409/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21080103/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social phobia (in autistic children) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4348067/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">A widely-investigated <em>COMT </em>underactive variant is associated with increased rates of anxiety disorders such as OCD, PTSD, and social phobia.</span></p> <h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Other Variants</span></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The minor &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele of </span><a href="../../../snp/rs4633/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs4633</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> increases </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">expression but has been associated with conditions typically linked to underactive variants (such as cancer and pain sensitivity), so it might reduce COMT activity. The &lsquo;TT&rsquo; genotype was associated with anorexia in a Chinese population [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6115408/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3152328/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26808641/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In people diagnosed with OCD, the major &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele of </span><a href="../../../snp/rs2075507/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">rs2075507</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> was associated with compulsive behaviors such as excessive washing and orderliness. This polymorphism was unrelated to COMT activity in a study on human brain samples [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26687156/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1182110/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Two <em>COMT </em>variants have been associated with anorexia and compulsive behaviors.</span></p> <h2><strong>Recommendations to Reduce Anxiety Disorders</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">You may try the complementary approaches listed below if you and your doctor determine that they could be appropriate for you. Discuss the strategies listed here with your doctor. Remember that none of them should ever be done in place of what your doctor recommends or prescribes.</span></em></p> <p>*1856399993582047*</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3><strong>Lifestyle</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One of the most common forms of therapy used by mental health professionals for mood and anxiety disorders is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Neurobiological evidence suggests that CBT works by reducing the activity of brain regions involved in emotional processing (such as the amygdala and hippocampus) and cognitive processing (such as the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex) [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9635215/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2933381/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25932596/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20655801/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial on 69 people with panic disorder, those carrying the &lsquo;A&rsquo; allele at rs4680 benefited less from CBT. Similarly, people with IBS carrying the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype experienced the least anxiety reduction from CBT. Conversely, this polymorphism was unrelated to CBT success in people with social phobia [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004861/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5334775/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3829855/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">CBT is widely used as a standard treatment for anxiety disorders. Your <em>COMT </em>variant may determine your rate of success depending on the type of disorder.</span></p> <h4><strong>Reducing Stress</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As previously described, people with underactive </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants (&lsquo;worriers&rsquo;) have excessive levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine in response to </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/factors-counteract-stress-response/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. This reduces their ability to adapt to stressful situations [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17008817/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Severe or chronic stress can trigger anxiety disorders such as PTSD and social phobia. By reducing the ability to cope with stress, underactive </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">COMT </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">variants increase the risk of developing these conditions [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27189040/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11206030/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We recommend addressing sources of stress in your life, either by taking up a stress-busting hobby or seeking professional help.</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Stress increases the risk of anxiety disorders such as PTSD and social phobia. COMT activity influences stress adaptation and susceptibility to these conditions.</span></p> <h4><strong>Meditation</strong></h4> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Multiple studies have confirmed that </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reduces the symptoms of anxiety and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/natural-treatments-depression/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">depression</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Research suggests that meditation is just as effective as medication when it comes to treating depression, pain, and anxiety, and can offer long-term benefits [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3718554/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24501780/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26417764/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meditation activates a brain region associated with anxiety reduction (anterior cingulate cortex) and increases gray matter volume in areas required for regulating empathic response, anxiety, and mood (right angular and posterior parahippocampal gyri) [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4040088/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3541494/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a clinical trial on 80 healthy volunteers, those with the &lsquo;AA&rsquo; genotype of rs4680 experienced the greatest stress reduction from meditation [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21790467/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Meditation is a technique with proven effectiveness at curbing anxiety. People with underactive <em>COMT </em>variants may especially benefit from meditation.</span></p> <h3><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4><strong>Sufficient Folate Intake</strong></h4> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Folate</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/16-proven-benefits-vitamin-b9-folate-folic-acid/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin B9</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) is an antioxidant vitamin with key roles in cellular metabolism, blood cell production, immune response, brain development and function, and fertility [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29889360/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/17209196/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1887065/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10746355/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4175124/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This vitamin restores SAM-e levels by producing its precursor </span><a href="http://selfhacked.com/blog/methionine-good-bad-surprising-truth-methionine-restriction/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">methionine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from the amino acid </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/optimal-homocysteine-levels-increase-decrease/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">homocysteine</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Folate is also involved in the synthesis of </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-serotonin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and dopamine. An imbalance in these neurotransmitters can lead to the development of depression and anxiety disorders [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17030196/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18950248/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Food sources of this vitamin include green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and legumes [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK114318"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Folate is an antioxidant vitamin with key roles in cellular metabolism, immune response, brain function, and fertility. Insufficient folate levels may lead to the development of anxiety disorders.</span></p>
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272 | content_learn_more_5390304526953149_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your COMT gene is associated with somewhat increased risk of anxiety disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, reducing stress, meditation, and sufficient folate intake can help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs4633,rs2075507,rs4680
rsStatus = rs4633,COMT,chr22,19962712,C,T,,,21,13,HET
rsStatus = rs2075507,COMT,chr22,19940569,G,A,C,T,22,10,HET
rsStatus = rs4680,COMT,chr22,19963748,G,A,,,19,11,HET
