Monoamine Oxidase Enzymes and Mental Health
Genes and Environment
Hi there,
I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to share my latest article on monoamine oxidase enzymes -- the Warrior Gene.
When I first started digging into research on genetic variants, I looked into the "Warrior Gene" because it sounded cool. Research from a few decades ago had nicknamed people with an MAOA variant as 'warriors' (or 'criminals', depending on the study) due to a link with agressive behavior.
Following the initial studies, there were a slew of publications showing that the MAOA variants weren't linked to aggression in a statistically significant way. I decided not to write about it.
This pattern is common in popular science ideas, where initial hype is followed by contradictory research that cannot replicate the results.
Members have repeatedly asked about MAOA over the past couple of years. So, I decided to explore the topic again and found new research that paints a more nuanced picture.
Recent studies suggest that MAO variants likely do play a role in aggressive behavior, but only for a subset of people. Genes X Environment. It's an important reminder to me that further studies can shed new light on a topic.
As Genetic Lifehacks has grown, I'm thankful for members who reach out with questions and send me new studies. Your questions and emails help me keep articles updated with the latest research.
Speaking of growth, I've upgraded the site to run on a bigger, faster server. I apologize to any of you that ran into problems with slow pages over the last month. Genetic Lifehacks is all set for lots of new members to join -- so I would love it if you would spread the word to friends and family.
Gratefully yours,
~ Debbie
https://www.geneticlifehacks.com/maoa/
Key takeaways:
~ Monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzymes break down neurotransmitters, helping to regulate neuron firing in the brain.
~ Higher or lower MAO enzyme levels can affect mood by altering neurotransmitter levels.
~ Genetic variants in MAOA and MAOB are linked to mood and aggression based on gender and environmental factors.
~ The low MAOA version was initially called the ‘warrior gene’ by researchers.
(Just as a heads up so that you aren’t disappointed: The current version of 23andMe data (v5) doesn’t cover MAO variants very well.)
In contrast to aggressiveness....
Lithium Orotate, Vitamin B12, and Mood
Let me cut to the chase:
– for some people, supplementing with low-dose lithium orotate helps with anxiety, mood, and anger issues.
– for others, lithium orotate supplements seem to have little or no noticeable effect on mood.
This article explains the research studies on lithium, digs into the genetic connections for mood response, and explores the link to cellular vitamin B12 levels.
What I've Been Reading....
This randomized-placebo controlled clinical trial investigated whether supplements that act as 'metabolic activators' could reverse Alzheimer's cognitive declines. The study participants received 2.35 g L-serine, 1 g nicotinamide riboside, 2.55 g N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), or 3.73 g L-carnitine tartrate -- compared to a placebo group. The results showed significant improvements in the patients with higher cognitive dysfunction scores.
This study has me optimistic about the future of Alzheimer's research. I wrote more in-depth about the individual components and mechanisms of action on Longevity Lifehacks.
2. Neuroprotective action of α-Klotho against LPS-activated glia conditioned medium in primary neuronal culture. Chronic, systemic inflammation is a hallmark of diseases of aging, and neuroinflammation is linked to cognitive issues in aging. Thus, modulating immune response in the brain -- which is what Klotho seems to be doing -- is important for healthy aging.
This new(ish) study shows that secreted Klotho is protective against activation of glial cells (a type of brain cell) by lipopolysaccharides (LPS).
Read more about Klotho and see your genes