MTHFR gene and ADHD

[OldIndigoBlue]

I think this has some important information regarding folate vs. folic acid, and also dietary information for ADHD folks:

lorrainedriscoll.com/why-ad...

Hope it helps someone.

[neuroadhd]

Thank you for the share! I have a family history of mental health disorders. I carry a gene associated with neuroticism. I studied epigenetics in graduate school and I have been looking a little closer at how my diet effects my impulsivity and hypersensitivity. Great information.

[OldIndigoBlue in reply to neuroadhd]

Are you familiar with Dr. Daniel Amen's work? I'm reading "Healing ADD" and he discusses brain injuries as a factor in ADD, and also addresses a number of different supplements along with dietary and exercise regimens. I don't know if he's a crack pot or if he's really onto something with his "7 types of ADD" with distinct differences (and some overlaps - I fit into 3 categories at least partially)... as well as his emphasis on SPECT brain imaging for diagnostic purposes. I also have a family history of mental health disorders so I will be following you to see what you share about neurological factors and genetics... I did not know there was a genetic marker for neuroticism... can you share more about that?

[neuroadhd in reply to OldIndigoBlue]

Yes, there is a genetic marker! I'll have to log into my life DNA account to identify the specifc variant. I believe my brain injury occurred in childhood. My mother deceived me into believing her husband was my father. I had a feeling since I was about 5 that something was off since I didn't look like anyone including my mother. My behavior also didn't match my siblings. I was an oddball. I was validated two years ago via a DNA test. As you can imagine this caused me some real issues. I was also a late talker (about 2 years old) and was describe as a very quiet child. I will definitely look into Dr. Amen's work.

SNP's for neuroticism.

[STEM_Dad in reply to OldIndigoBlue]

I know that Dr. Daniel Amen's SPECT scan research is disputed by other ADHD experts.

I think that he has generally good advice about nutrition, and I have a appreciation for a lot of the information he's put out, but the title of his book "Healing ADD" is a misnomer. ADHD/ADD is certainly treatable, but it's recognized as a lifelong disorder/condition, not a curable disease.

He's right, though, that a person can develop ADHD symptoms after injury to the brain, even if they didn't have ADHD symptoms before the injury. (Even Dr. Russell Barkley has said as much.) I'm not sure whether medication would work the same for them, but other interventions ought to help.

Besides that, people with ADHD do tend to be more prone to injury (including head injury), for various reasons. (I was certainly more injury prone before meds, including minor head injuries, but never any major head injuries. My ADHD is all natural.)

[OldIndigoBlue in reply to STEM_Dad]

I think the title of the book is just a hook to get people to read it. I'm actually quite intrigued with what he's saying - I think the read is worth it. And yes, he certainly doesn't say he's got the CURE to all ADHD, but he seems to have some pretty staunch opinions about what can help, including medications ... like seizure meds (specific kinds, too) for different kinds of head injury which shows up on the SPECT scans, and apparently produces different kinds of behavior patterns..... He includes plenty of stories about his patients which are often quite compelling. And at least very interesting..... just my thoughts..... but yeah, I figured he'd be in conflict with other ADHD experts... then again, it is often the outliers that discover something new, and yet they are disparaged along the way.....

[TT78 in reply to STEM_Dad]

Timely coming across this comment as I am nursing two bumps on my forehead, each created in the past week by doing things too quickly/ not paying attention. The first one was just starting to subside, and today I hit the other side of my forehead on a shelf. Derp. Neither were bad enough to cause a TBI, but geez. My ADHD isn't even severe. So yeah, I would say we have a tendency to hurt ourselves often.

[HCStymie in reply to OldIndigoBlue]

Unfortunately he's a quack. Makes everything sound good, but has no basis in his conclusions. Lumps a bunch of stuff together in ways that sound good to the lay person. Then tries to sell you on his clinics and over priced supplements.

[ScaryMary123 in reply to neuroadhd]

I am very interested in this as well. I have looked into DNA testing but have never found a test that I thought I could get good info from. Who did your testing? I know that there are companies that will take your raw data and analyze it (I believe it is Genesight). I have often wondered if I have issues with the MTHFR. There is definitely family history including alcoholism, Bipolar 2 diagnosis, and depression. I'm sure there's more that I don't know. The family is huge...hundreds of cousins as my father was 1 of 16 kids...

[neuroadhd in reply to ScaryMary123]

I used Life DNA to analyze my 23 and me results.

[Hidden]

I have the MTHR gene mutation, my DNA test was done by Gene sight and was very accurate. I was prescribed Deplin which is 15 mg of Highly available Folate from Algae. It's marketed as an adjunct for depression gene mutation or not. I was prescribed it and despite getting all this great folate after a year I stopped, it did nothing. It's still the best option for the MTHR gene mutations.

Regular folate you would buy is typically micrograms, so 15MG is a lot and supposedly what people with the mutation need.

Insurance typically covers it and there is a generic. I think she really overestimated what this gene mutation actually does. For me, I take a Bioavailable B Complex and that's it, and it absorbs fine in people with the MTHR. I'm sure it's worse in certain people, but I have never noticed a thing. I just thought I would share my experience having the mutation and having taken Deplin. The article made it sound that if you didn't do all the things she recommended, then you could have very serious problems. My doctor's experience with it is the same, once they treat the mutation nobody really realizes anything different.

You'll never know you even have it unless your DNA is tested. So it's not some very severe issue. It's a very wide range. One person might be compromised 5% or something else 50%.

If someone has it I suggest Deplin it's the best folate made, it's all natural from algae. If you notice something good, but not many do, hence why most people have no idea what it is.

[TT78 in reply to Hidden]

I appreciate the sentiment of the original poster, just trying to share helpful info, but this woman's website was very sales-y sounding. The familiar: I was just like you and suffering beyond belief, but now I know all of the secrets to how to fix everything in your entire family's life. Kept repeating her catch phrase, "ROOT CAUSE".

[HCStymie]

I'd take it with a grain of salt. Looks like another quackery place with half truths. Drilled down a few levels to research they base their stiff on and it is junk.