“Drive, Calm, and Connect — Dopamine fuels, GABA cools, Serotonin soothes.”
DNA Mind tests for genetic variations associated with changes in key biological areas that affect mental health.
Key:
N = Neurodegenerative disorders
M = Mood regulation
A = Addictive behaviour
Dopamine
Dopamine helps your brain with motivation, mood, memory, and movement. When dopamine isn’t working properly, it can increase the risk of mental health issues, addiction, or impulsive behaviour.
What does dopamine do?
- It helps you feel motivated, satisfied, and happy.
- It plays a role in thinking clearly and remembering things (working memory).
- It also helps with movement and coordination.
Why is it important?
If dopamine levels or function are off, either too much or too little, it can affect:
- Mood (leading to depression or mood swings)
- Focus and memory (leading to trouble concentrating or cognitive decline)
- Self-control (which may lead to addictive behaviours, like substance abuse, gambling, or binge eating)
- Risk-taking behavior
| Dopaminergic | COMT | Val158Met | AG | N = low impact | m = low impact | a = low impact |
| DRD1 | T>C | CT | low impact | |||
| C>T | CT | low impact | ||||
| DRD2 | Taq1A/2A | CC | normal | |||
| DRD3 | Ser9Gly | CT | low impact | |||
| DRD4 | -521 C>T | CT | low impact | |||
| OPRM1 | Asn40Asp | AA | normal |
COMT
The COMT gene affects how your brain manages dopamine, especially in areas that control thinking, focus, and emotions. Differences in this gene can affect how you handle stress, how clearly you think, and even your risk for certain mental health conditions.
What does COMT do?
- It controls how quickly dopamine is cleared away, especially in the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, planning, and attention.
- The Val158Met variation (a common difference in the COMT gene) affects how fast or slow this enzyme works.
Why does it matter?
- Some people have a version of the gene that breaks down dopamine quickly — they may have lower dopamine levels and could struggle with stress or focus.
- Others have a version that breaks it down slowly — they may have higher dopamine levels, which can be helpful for focus but may increase sensitivity to stress or overstimulation.
Alex’s Result: VAL158Met / AG
The COMT AG genotype is associated with a low risk for cognitive function disorders, as well as a low risk for addictive behaviour. Due to the slightly slower catecholamine breakdown, individuals with the GA genotype may be slightly susceptible to anxiety-related disorders.
DRD1
The DRD1 gene helps your brain respond to dopamine, especially in areas that affect motivation, mood, and reward. It’s important for healthy brain development and emotional balance.
What is a dopamine receptor?
Think of it like a lock that dopamine (the “feel-good” brain chemical) fits into — when dopamine connects with it, it helps send signals that affect your brain and body.
What does the D1 receptor do?
- It’s the most common dopamine receptor in the brain.
- It helps with brain development, especially how brain cells grow and connect.
- It plays a role in behaviour, motivation, learning, and emotions.
- It also helps control how much dopamine is released in a part of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which is tied to pleasure and reward.
Alex’s Result: DRD1 T<C / CT and C>T / CC
This CT genotype may be mildly associated with alcohol dependence and associated disorders, including bipolar disorder and novelty seeking, as well as behavioural persistence and harm avoidance behaviour characterised as anticipatory worry, fear of uncertainty, and shyness.
DRD2
DRD2 encodes the D2 subtype of the dopamine receptor, which is integral in the reward-circuitry pathway. The gene has been linked to co-morbid substance use disorders as well as risk-seeking and binge eating behaviour.
Alex’s Result: Taq1A/2A /CC – normal response
DRD3
DRD3 encodes the D3 subtype of the dopamine receptor. This receptor is localised to the limbic areas of the brain, which are associated with cognitive, emotional, and endocrine functions.
Alex’s Result: Ser9Gly / CT
Carriers of the CT genotype have been associated with increased susceptibility toward co-morbid substance use disorders as well as increased risk for early-onset dependence on opioids and amphetamines. Some evidence has also linked the risk C allele to greater novelty-seeking behaviour.
DRD4
DRD4 encodes the D4 subtype of the dopamine receptor, which is integral in the reward-circuitry pathway. The gene has been linked to novelty seeking, substance dependence vulnerability, as well as ADHD.
Alex’s Result: -521 C>T / CT
The DRD4 T allele, but more so the TT genotype, may predispose to increased risk for opioid dependence. The C allele is associated with novelty-seeking behaviour. Having insight into risk for opioid dependence may assist with early intervention and therapeutic management.
OPRM1
The OPRM1 gene makes a receptor that helps control pain relief and pleasure feelings in the brain. It’s also involved in how some drugs can cause addiction by influencing brain reward systems.
What is the mu opioid receptor?
- It’s like a docking station on certain brain cells.
- It responds to natural chemicals in your body called endorphins (these help reduce pain and create feelings of pleasure).
- It also reacts to opioid pain medicines (like morphine).
Why is it important?
- MOR helps control how your body feels pain and pleasure.
- It also affects the brain’s dopamine system, which controls reward and motivation.
- Because of this, MOR plays a big role in how people develop dependence or addiction to substances like nicotine, cocaine, alcohol, and opioids.
Alex’s Result: Asn40Asp / CC – normal response
GABAergic Pathway
Externalising behaviour means acting out in ways like aggression, impulsiveness, or breaking rules. People who show this behaviour early in life are more likely to start using drugs or alcohol early and may develop problems with addiction as adults.
GABA helps calm the brain and control behaviour. Problems with the GABA system may contribute to acting out (externalising behaviour), which is linked to a higher chance of starting drug use early and developing addiction later.
What’s the GABAergic pathway?
- It involves GABA, a chemical messenger in the brain.
- GABA is the brain’s main inhibitory neurotransmitter, which means it helps calm down brain activity.
- Your brain balances signals that excite it (make it more active) with signals that inhibit it (slow it down). GABA is the main chemical that slows things down.
How does this affect behaviour?
- When GABA activity is increased (like when taking some medications such as benzodiazepines, which are calming drugs), people can feel relaxed, sleepy, or less coordinated.
- When GABA activity is reduced, people can feel anxious, restless, have trouble sleeping, or be more easily upset or reactive.
| GABAergic | GABRA2 | T>C | TT | N = | M = | A = normal |
Alex’s ResultL GABRA2 T>C /TT
The GABRA2 gene makes a part of a brain receptor that helps GABA calm brain activity. This receptor is important for relaxing the brain and is a target for some medicines that help reduce anxiety and promote sleep.
What does this receptor do?
- It listens for GABA, a brain chemical that calms down brain activity.
- When GABA attaches to this receptor, it opens a tiny gate that lets chloride ions into the cell.
- This makes the brain cell less active, helping you feel calm and relaxed.
How do some medicines affect this?
- Drugs like benzodiazepines (used to treat anxiety or help with sleep) work by attaching to these GABA-A receptors.
- When they do, they boost GABA’s calming effect, which can cause sedation (sleepiness), memory loss, and loss of coordination.
Serotonergic Pathway
Serotonin is a brain chemical that helps you feel happy, calm, and focused. It also helps with memory and learning. Low serotonin can make people feel down or depressed.
Where is serotonin found?
- Mostly in your gut (stomach and intestines)
- In your blood cells
- In your brain and nervous system
What does serotonin do?
- It helps regulate your mood and is linked to feeling happy and calm.
- It also plays a role in learning and memory, especially in how your brain remembers things related to drug use.
- Serotonin works by attaching to special “receivers” in the brain called serotonin receptors.
Why is serotonin important?
- When serotonin levels are low, people may feel sad or depressed.
- Understanding how serotonin works helps researchers learn about mood disorders and addiction.
| Serotonergic | 1A HTR1A | -1019 C>G | CG | N = | m = moderately impacted | A = |
| SLC6A4 | A>C | AC | N = | M = | A = normal |
1A HTR1A -1019 C>G / CG
The 5-HT1A receptors help keep your brain’s serotonin system balanced, especially in parts of the brain that control emotions and stress. They act like a control switch to make sure serotonin signals don’t get too strong.
What do these receptors do?
- They act like “brakes” for serotonin-producing brain cells.
- When activated, they tell the brain to slow down serotonin release so the system doesn’t get too active.
- These receptors work especially in areas of the brain involved in emotions and mood, like the amygdala, which helps process fear and stress.
Alex’s Result: The G-allele is a version of a gene that can make some people react more strongly to stress and have a harder time coping with it. This can increase the chance of developing conditions like depression or bipolar disorder.
What else is linked to the G-allele?
- It might also make people act more impulsively (acting without thinking).
- People with the CG version of this gene are more likely to have serious mood disorders.
What can help?
- Managing stress better through techniques like relaxation or mindfulness.
- Taking care of your gut health (because gut and brain health are connected).
- Eating foods rich in tryptophan (an amino acid that helps your brain make serotonin, the “feel-good” chemical).
Important to know:
- People with the G-allele might not respond as well to some treatments that work by changing the serotonin system in the brain.
In short, Having the G-allele can make stress harder to handle and increase the risk for mood problems like depression. Managing stress, gut health, and diet can help, but some treatments might be less effective for these individuals.
SLC6A4 A>C / AC
The SLC6A4 gene makes a protein that helps reuse serotonin in the brain, keeping mood signals balanced. It’s also affected by certain stimulant drugs.
What does this protein do?
- After serotonin sends its message between brain cells, this protein carries serotonin back into the sending cell so it can be used again.
- This process turns off the serotonin signal to keep things balanced.
Why is it important?
- This recycling helps control how much serotonin is available in the brain, which affects mood and emotions.
- Some drugs, like amphetamines and cocaine, affect this protein, which changes how serotonin works and can lead to feelings of excitement or addiction.
Neurotramsmitters
PLEASE NOTE: ANY VIEWS REGARDING THE RESULTS ARE MY UNDERSTANDING AND DO NOT SERVE AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. THE TREATMENT RECOMMENDATION IS STRICTLY RELATED TO ALEX’S RESULTS AND NOT MEANT FOR SELF-TREATMENT. ALWAYS SPEAK TO YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER BEFORE STARTING ANY TREATMENTS.
