BookmarkStudy title: Genome-Wide Association Study of Suicide Death and Polygenic Prediction of Clinical Antecedents The American Journal of Psychiatry, Nov. 2020 Press release from the University of Utah on the study: Every 11 minutes, an American dies by suicide. That’s 132 people a day or more than 48,000 annually. For … Read more
BookmarkStudy title: Evening home lighting adversely impacts the circadian system and sleep Nature, Nov 2020 Overview of the study: Quick background: Melatonin is a hormone that the body produces at night, and it is an integral part of our circadian rhythm. Levels rise at night when it is dark, and … Read more
Studies show that lithium in ground water is linked to lower levels of Alzheimers, depression, and aggression. Find out how lithium may be important in Alzheimer’s prevention.
More than just a sleep hormone, melatonin is at the heart of many health topics. Your genetic variants play a big role in the production of melatonin. Learn how your lifestyle and diet interact with your melatonin-related genes.
PPARδ is a key player in how and when your muscles burn fat for fuel. Genetic variants in the PPARD gene impact how well your muscles utilize fatty acids. These variants also impact how much of a fat-burning benefit you get from exercise.
Genetic variants in the endocannabinoid system are strongly linked to increased appetite and higher weight. Find out if you naturally have ‘the munchies’. (Member’s article)
The TRPV1 receptor is activated by capsaicin in spicy foods. But there is a lot more to this story… find out how this receptor impacts diabetes, metabolic function, and more.
Your circadian rhythm influences your immune response. Learn how this rhythm controls white blood cell production and why melatonin protects against viral and bacterial infections.
Genetic variants make a difference in how you respond to modfinil — whether it is likely to work well for you or not.
Find out how genes interact with your lifestyle in controlling the amount of deep sleep you get each night. Check out your genetic variants and hack your sleep. (Member’s article)
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is characterized by recurrent depression with a change in the season usually in fall/winter for most. Scientists think this is possibly due to an aberrant response to light – either not enough brightness to the sunlight or not enough hours of light. Your genes play a big role in this responsiveness to light.
Genetics plays a role in susceptibility to addictive behavior, including internet and smartphone addiction. This article examines the latest fad of dopamine fasting along with genetic variants tied to internet use problems, smartphone usage disorder, and gaming disorders.
Oxytocin is called the love hormone. Genetic variants in the OXT gene are linked to being more social and empathetic vs being more of an introvert.
Wondering why you don’t react the same way to alcohol as your friends do? Some people metabolize alcohol faster leaving a build-up of acetaldehyde. Learn more about why this can be a health problem for some.
Wondering why your neurotransmitters are out of balance? It could be due to your COMT genetic variants. The COMT gene codes for the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase which breaks down (metabolizes) the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
Discover how genetic variants influence your susceptibility to substance abuse, and how the variants impact your body’s reaction to cannabis. (Member’s article)
A study in the journal Behavioral Brain Research paints a fascinating picture of why some people are more motivated to exercise. The study looked at the dopaminergic system to see how people’s genetic variants could alter the ‘reinforcing value’ of exercise.
Genetic variants in the BDNF and serotonin receptor genes combine to increase the risk of depression and anxiety. Learn more about BDNF and how these variants interact — and check your genetic data to see how this applies to you.
Did you know that some supplements change the expression of your core circadian clock genes? Your core circadian rhythm genes are foundational to your health, and some supplements alter that rhythm.
The hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1A) gene codes for a transcription factor, that responds to the amount of oxygen available to the cell. This is important in cancer prevention, and several HIF1A genetic variants alter the susceptibility to several types of cancer.
Your telomeres are the region at the end of each chromosome that keeps your DNA intact when your cells divide. Genetics plays a role here – along with diet and lifestyle.
Chronic inflammation is the driver of many common diseases such as heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune diseases. C-Reactive Protein is a marker of inflammation. Genetic variants can increase or decrease CRP levels.
Exposure to childhood trauma, such as exposure to abuse, violence, or repeated stress, can have a long-lasting effect. Genetic differences in the CRHR1 gene are linked to elevated cortisol levels in adults who were exposed to trauma in childhood.
An easy way to improve sleep and increase melatonin production at night is to wear blue light blocking glasses before bed. Explore the research on why this is so important, and learn about the different options available for blue-blocking glasses.
Seeing 3:30 or 4:00 on your clock each morning? There could be a physiological reason for this. Learn about the genetic variants linked to early waking insomnia and the connection to depression. (Member’s article)