Low motivation (for me) due to MAO-A activity

[baccheion]

Genetic testing results are in, and I may have finally discovered the reason for the procrastinator of the P in the INTP I am: rs909525 (MAO-A) = T. Therefore, Allicin (Life Extension Optimized Garlic), as I also have genes that make it more likely I'll have cardiovascular problems, and will need more antioxidants and antimicrobials.

If not garlic, then Moclobemide, as that's a more direct MAO-A inhibitor. This is something you can try if you haven't responded well to caffeine, amphetamines, or Modafinil/Adrafinil/Nuvigil.

 

[Architect]

I have double mutations (both parents) in MAO A (T allele), along with COMT mutation's, and others in the MTHFR methlyation sequence. I didn't let it stop me or affect my motivation. You are not your genes, but you are your gene expression, which goes along with who you decide to be.

 

[baccheion]

I have double mutations (both parents) in MAO A (T allele), along with COMT mutation's, and others in the MTHFR methlyation sequence. I didn't let it stop me or affect my motivation. You are not your genes, but you are your gene expression, which goes along with who you decide to be.

What mutations do you have (SNPs + alleles)? There are known supplement recommendations for each, so you could easily supplement to inhibit or increase activity as needed.

If you have high MAO-A activity and high COMT activity (both leading to low dopamine levels), then you can supplement with Moclobemide (MAO-A inhibitor) and Nuvigil/Modafinil/Adrafinil (good for those with the Val/Val polymorphism at V158M).

 

[Architect]

Methylfolate for the MTHFR, which is just taking a vitamin. There are various things as you mention that can be used for dopamine/et al, but I wouldn't go down that path unless you have precise knowledge of what your doing. We know that these snps encode for these enzymes, but don't have any precision as to what defects have what effects exactly. It depends on the number of defects (having a half defect often means that the other half encodes correctly - we think), and it appears to compound as there are usually several snps that are involved in any particular process (Methlyation is especially complex). So, are the dopamine levels too low? How do you know, are you testing for dopamine? How so? What defines low, for you? And so forth. Additionally dopamine isn't the only neurotransmitter that is involved here.

So there isn't enough knowledge to do a lot based on genetic tests IMO. Despite that I've got my full genome, and am watching the research. One example, my biggest genetic risk factor is for APOE-4 which correlates to a 40%+ of developing alzheimer's. Except, Stanford researchers just combed through the data and found that it's true for women, not men. Big difference.

So in short I self monitor and have a particular, tailored health regime, but am very cautious about chemical treatments/drugs at this point. A homeopathic approach is the best we can do presently, and frankly that's a good starting place anyhow.

 

[baccheion]

Methylfolate for the MTHFR, which is just taking a vitamin. There are various things as you mention that can be used for dopamine/et al, but I wouldn't go down that path unless you have precise knowledge of what your doing. We know that these snps encode for these enzymes, but don't have any precision as to what defects have what effects exactly. It depends on the number of defects (having a half defect often means that the other half encodes correctly - we think), and it appears to compound as there are usually several snps that are involved in any particular process (Methlyation is especially complex). So, are the dopamine levels too low? How do you know, are you testing for dopamine? How so? What defines low, for you? And so forth. Additionally dopamine isn't the only neurotransmitter that is involved here.

So there isn't enough knowledge to do a lot based on genetic tests IMO. Despite that I've got my full genome, and am watching the research. One example, my biggest genetic risk factor is for APOE-4 which correlates to a 40%+ of developing alzheimer's. Except, Stanford researchers just combed through the data and found that it's true for women, not men. Big difference.

So in short I self monitor and have a particular, tailored health regime, but am very cautious about chemical treatments/drugs at this point. A homeopathic approach is the best we can do presently, and frankly that's a good starting place anyhow.

So then what are your polymorphisms for the MAO-A (rs909525, rs2064070, rs6323, rs3027399, rs2235186, rs1137070, rs2072743, rs3027407, rs6609257, and rs1799836) and COMT (rs165599, rs165722, rs165774, rs2020917, rs2239393, rs4633, rs4646312, rs4646316, rs4680, rs5993882, rs6267, rs6269, rs737865, rs737866, and rs769224) genes?


In my case, I don't have any issues directly related to dopamine. I'd trend toward low motivation levels and depression, because high MAO-A activity results in catecholamines aggressively being cleared out.

Based on my genetic data, it seems there isn't much going on (negatively) in this regard other than the MAO-A issue, so the solution (for me) seems fairly straightforward. Furthermore, due to my Val/Met COMT V158M polymorphism, it's likely I'll have high(er) dopamine levels once MAO-A is inhibited. That is, without doing anything (except maybe supplying raw material like L-Phenylalanine), I'll naturally have higher dopamine levels, meaning not only will my motivation issues be gone, I'll swing to being someone that's very motivated but without anxiety, restlessness, or paranoia.

 

[Robin]

Sadly, Moclobemide isn't approved in the US (none of the fun drugs are). So I guess tell me more about this garlic? Low motivation is a huge problem for me and I have no problem using myself as a guinea pig. The doctors do it, why shouldn't I? At least none of my own 'experimentation' has landed me in the hospital.

 

[Robin]

Also, what service did you go through for genetic testing? Can't decide if I'm willing to splurge on that or not.

 

[Architect]

23andme on the cheap for a the common SNP's people care about. You can try Veritas Genetics for the first $1k full genome, or if you want personal counseling then expect to pay $5k+

 

[baccheion]

Sadly, Moclobemide isn't approved in the US (none of the fun drugs are). So I guess tell me more about this garlic? Low motivation is a huge problem for me and I have no problem using myself as a guinea pig. The doctors do it, why shouldn't I? At least none of my own 'experimentation' has landed me in the hospital.

It not being approved shouldn't affect its legal status, as it's still unscheduled. That is, it should be perfectly fine to import (up to a 90-day supply) for personal use.

Garlic extract (if you can find one with high "allicin release," as that's the ingredient that does most of the heavy lifting) is an MAO-A inhibitor. There are other MAO-A inhibitors such as Harmine (Syrian Rue) and grape seed extract.

The key is getting genetic testing (through 23andme, for example, then upload the raw data file to a site like SelfDecode) to pinpoint what over/under active systems (COMT, MAO-A, or something else) are likely a cause of motivation issues.