Introduction to Stress and Genetics

While our life experiences influence how we perceive and react to stress, certain genes make us more or less sensitive to stress. The one big factor, why stress affects each of us differently is related to how efficiently our bodies are able to metabolize and detoxify catecholamines (stress neurotransmitters). The COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) gene along with genes related to then Methylation cycle controls those pathways and therefore controls how our brain responds to stress.

 COMT gene encodes the enzyme Catechol-O-Methyltransferase, which is crucial for detoxification, estrogen metabolism, and the breakdown of stress neurotransmitters like dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

How COMT Variants Affect Stress Metabolism

The COMT gene provides an instruction for making an enzyme called Catechol-O-Methyltransferase.  This enzyme is important for detoxification, estrogen metabolism and for degradation of major stress neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine.  These neurotransmitters help with focus, alertness, learning, memory, movement, and motivation. Because the COMT enzyme is involved in process of metabolism and detoxification of these stress catecholamines, it has a major impact on how one deals with stress and how one feels on day-to-day basis.

COMT pathways have a massive influence on our mental and emotional well being

Identifying Your COMT Pathway: Fast or Slow

Approximately 80% of the population has one or the other variant in COMT.  Individual with slow COMT pathways may not be able to clear catechol, estrogen, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine efficiently from their system. As a result, they may experience increased anxiety, heightened sense of pain, inability to handle stress well, unable to wind down or trouble sleeping. It can also decrease clearance of estrogens, causing PMS, menstrual related symptoms, and may put one at risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Individual with fast COMT pathways, stress neurotransmitters leave the body too quickly and therefore, it can be hard for one to stay focused, motivated and energized.  

Approximately 80% of the population has one or the other variant in COMT

People without the COMT mutations are generally even tempered and can manage their stress well.

Since the COMT pathways play critical involvement in detoxification of our major neurotransmitters and stress hormones, it has a massive influence on our mental and emotional wellbeing. 

The COMT gene has two variants: depending on the type of variant, it can make the coded enzyme to work either faster or slower.

Personalized Health and Well-being Based on COMT Variants

With this wealth of information, your healthcare practitioner can create a customized plan – a personalized protocol – designed specifically for your unique genetic makeup and epigenetic influences. It’s like having a roadmap to help you achieve your health goals, whether that’s managing a condition, optimizing your nutrition, or simply feeling your best.

By using personalized medicine, you can discover your full potential and live a balanced, healthy life that’s perfectly suited to your unique genetics.

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