371 | id == 371
371 | category_id == 22
371 | category_order == 19
371 | category_name == Trauma
371 | category_color == #C47AC0
371 | slug == TLR4-PTSD
371 | title == A Genetic Link Between Brain Inflammation & PTSD (TLR4)
371 | meta_description == TLR4 helps to stimulate the release of inflammatory proteins. A variant of TLR4 has been linked to PTSD. Read more here.
371 | summary == <p style="text-align:justify"><strong><em>TLR4</em> codes for a receptor that can stimulate the release of inflammatory proteins. A variant of <em>TLR4</em> may promote inflammation in certain brain regions associated with PTSD. Read more to learn about this association, and to learn about recommendations you may follow to counter the negative effects of this variant.</strong></p>
371 | overall_score_text == Your PTSD Score (based on TLR4 gene)
371 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/TLR4-PTSD.jpg
371 | author_id == 14
371 | author_name == Shany Lahan
371 | author_title == MS (Neuroscience)
371 | author_order == 5
371 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Shany.webp
371 | author_intro == <p>Shany received her MSc in Neuroscience from Western University.</p>    <p>Prior to joining SelfDecode, Shany conducted research related to Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, and taught science to undergraduate students. She believes that research should be accessible to everyone, regardless of scientific background. Shany joined SelfDecode&nbsp;with a mission to help others optimize their health and wellbeing &ndash; as well as help them understand the science behind it all.</p>
371 | reviewer == None
371 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
371 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
371 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
371 | publish_date == 2020
371 | publish_date == 9
371 | publish_date == 30
371 | avg_rating == 5.0
371 | tags_id == 742
371 | tags_name == Amygdala
371 | tags_id == 760
371 | tags_name == Fear Extinction
371 | tags_id == 24
371 | tags_name == Inflammation
371 | tags_id == 387
371 | tags_name == TLR4 Gene
371 | permissions_favorite == False
371 | permissions_rate == False
371 | content_article == <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TLR4 is a receptor that can influence the release of inflammatory proteins. A variant of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TLR4 </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in PTSD by increasing TLR4 production, which may result in the release of excess inflammatory proteins. Diet and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of this variant by decreasing production and activity of TLR4.&nbsp;</span></span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong><em>TLR4</em> and PTSD</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TLR4 is a receptor that can stimulate cells of the immune system to release inflammatory proteins. This receptor can be found in the amygdala, a region of the brain implicated in the processing of fear [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/7099"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29558743/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not surprisingly, the amygdala has been observed to be hyperresponsive in individuals living with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. In fact, the worse the severity of PTSD symptoms, the greater the hyperresponsivity of the amygdala [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16891563/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a study of rats, stress increased the amount of TLR4 found in the amygdala. This increase was linked to impairments in fear extinction: the process of extinguishing automatic stress responses when exposed to similar details (e.g., sights, sounds, or smells) of an event that previously elicited fear. Similar impairments in fear extinction are often observed in PTSD [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29558743/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the same study, inhibiting the activity of TLR4 shortened the amount of time required to extinguish an automatic stress response [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29558743/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In PTSD, continuous exposure to elevated levels of inflammatory proteins has been suggested to inhibit the growth of new brain cells (neurons) in the amygdala, thus altering activity of this brain region [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26544749/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22840760/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A variant of </span><a href="../../../gene/tlr4/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">TLR4</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">has been associated with PTSD. It&rsquo;s possible that this variant may increase the amount of TLR4 produced in the amygdala. This could lead to excess release of inflammatory proteins, alteration of amygdala activity, impairment in fear extinction, and amplification of PTSD symptoms [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Your <em>TLR4</em> Results for PTSD</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*5750081240597182*</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Primary SNP: </strong><strong><em>TLR4</em></strong> <a href="../../../snp/rs4986790/"><strong>rs4986790</strong></a></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Increased risk of PTSD</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Not associated with PTSD</span></li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">*7621585545019882*</p> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><strong>Recommendations for Reducing Symptoms of PTSD</strong></h2> <p style="text-align: justify;">*4374554988837862*</p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Diet</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Blueberries</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Researchers have yet to study the effects of </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/blueberries-health-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">blueberries</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on humans with PTSD. However, in a study of rats with PTSD, a diet that included blueberries was found to reduce anxiety. The authors of this study suggested this effect to be due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of blueberries [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5014311/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A blueberry smoothie consumed 2 times a day for 6 weeks was found to decrease the production of TLR4 and lower levels of inflammatory proteins in metabolic syndrome patients [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29019365/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Blueberries may reduce symptoms of PTSD by decreasing production and activity of TLR4.&nbsp;</span></p> <h3 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Supplements</strong></h3> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Fish Oil (Omega-3)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/fish-oil-top-22-science-based-health-benefits-of-fish-oil/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fish oil</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> contains DHA and EPA, two types of omega-3 fatty acids [</span><a href="https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Omega3FattyAcids-HealthProfessional/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Low levels of DHA have been associated with PTSD. Conversely, supplementation of omega-3 and consequent high levels of EPA have been associated with reduced severity of PTSD symptoms after physical injury [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27567082/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27552592/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a randomized controlled trial focused on overweight or obese pregnant women, omega-3 supplementation was found to reduce production and activity of TLR4. Similarly, supplementation with DHA prevented increases in TLR4 production, in a small group of 15 soccer players [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26340264/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24954162/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Fish oil (omega-3) may reduce symptoms of PTSD by decreasing production and activity of TLR4.</span></p> <h4 style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Curcumin (Turmeric)</strong></h4> <p style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/curcumin-cures-top-15-scientifically-proven-health-benefits-with-references/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Curcumin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is an active compound found in turmeric [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5664031/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">In two studies of rats with PTSD, curcumin ameliorated fear-based memories and reduced symptoms of anxiety [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6029466/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367473/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Although studies focusing on curcumin supplementation have yet to be conducted on human participants with PTSD, its benefits on general symptoms of anxiety and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression suggest promise for future studies [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28135888/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin have been demonstrated in a number of studies. For example, in a study of mice subjected to a traumatic brain injury, curcumin was found to reduce production of TLR4, as well as lower levels of inflammatory proteins [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29686833/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24669820/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Curcumin (turmeric) may reduce symptoms of PTSD by decreasing production and activity of TLR4.</span></p>
371 | content_snp_table_5750081240597182_key == 5750081240597182
371 | content_snp_table_5750081240597182_blur == True
371 | content_snp_table_5750081240597182_hidden == False
371 | content_learn_more_7621585545019882_key == 7621585545019882
371 | content_learn_more_7621585545019882_blur == True
371 | content_learn_more_7621585545019882_hidden == False
371 | content_learn_more_7621585545019882_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your TLR4 gene makes you somewhat more likely to develop PTSD and its associated symptoms. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of PTSD; it’s just one gene related to it. Blueberries, fish oil (omega-3), and curcumin (turmeric) may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
371 | content_recommendation_4374554988837862_key == 4374554988837862
371 | content_recommendation_4374554988837862_blur == True
371 | content_recommendation_4374554988837862_hidden == False
rsIDs = rs4986790
rsStatus = rs4986790,TLR4,chr9,117713024,A,G,T,,27,0,Normal
