COMT is a gene I love talking about. It encodes for the catechol-O-methyltransferase which is an enzyme that breaks down certain neurotransmitters in your brain.
Have you ever noticed what happens when you're in a stressful situation? It's called the fight-or-flight response. Your heart rate spikes, you feel a surge of energy, you become more alert, and your muscles tighten. This occurs because your body is releasing neurotransmitters to help you navigate stressful moments.
But what happens once the stressful situation ends? Ideally, your body should return to normal. The COMT gene plays a role in how your body clears out stress neurotransmitters. If your COMT is slower than usual, you might struggle to calm down and return to baseline after a stressful event. On the other hand, if your COMT is fast, your body may eliminate these stress neurotransmitters too quickly.
If you have slow COMT you might find it difficult to relax. For example, when it's time for bed and your body feels tired, you might lie down and suddenly start worrying. Slow COMT can make you more prone to stress and anxiety. However, the upside is that having slow COMT can also make you highly focused and productive.
If you have fast COMT you may have difficulty concentrating and low energy. On the plus side, you are able to relax, handle a lot of stress, and sleep well.
COMT affects medications too! Medications that may be affected by COMT include pain medications, behavioral health medications, and ADHD medications. COMT affects how your body breaks down green tea, chocolate, and caffeine. Lastly, COMT is linked to pain perception, psychiatric disorders, and breast cancer. Yes, even estrogen is affected by COMT!
Understanding your COMT function can give you insight into yourself and help you discover ways to support it. If you're ready to learn more about your COMT gene, let me know!
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