https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPsHxqBbACs
Have you ever noticed that people with methylation issues are usually very smart? It has a lot to do with having difficulty breaking down neurotransmitters. Having SNPs is not always a curse; it can bless you with attributes as well. COMT is a definitely contender for such a double-edged sword. It can keep dopamine and epinephrine/adrenalin in the synapse longer. People with these genetics might do well with memory and focus, but if you stress them too much, the end up with way too much dopamine/adrenalin being released. This excess catecholamine condition can lead to mania, schizoid behavior, paranoia, anxiety, to name but a few. This video will show you why too much catecholamines can really mess up your brain, give you fog, pain, poor memory and all sorts of digestive and pain syndromes. Yes, when the brain is sick our whole body is sick!
As we know COMT and MAO enzymes are critical parts of our biochemistry and our methylation cycle. In the brain, COMT is mainly responsible for breaking down catecholamine neurotransmitters dopamine and adrenalin (epinephrine). COMT is also used in the breakdown of estrogen in the liver. This makes COMT a key player both inside and outside the brain since estrogen levels can impact many things including cancer, hormone symptoms, and stroke – but we’ll get to that next time. Listen to Dr. Rostenberg explain the significance of COMT and MAO polymorphisms on our brain function. In this video he illustrates how dopamine and epinephrine (adrenalin) are processed inside the brain. If the body gets this pathway balanced, we feel positive and calm, have focus and energy, and sleep through the night. If the body doesn’t balance this pathway, all sorts of health problems can result such as chronic fatigue, insomnia, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, and a host of other neurological problems. Remember that one gene doesn’t determine your fate. Understanding COMT is a key part of understanding methylation because this enzyme impacts both our hormones and our neurotransmitters. If you would like help with your methylation genetics to heal your neurotransmitters and/or hormones, please contact Dr. Rostenberg at Red Mountain Natural Medicine today. Phone 208-322-7755. Email care@redmountainclinic.com.