Your brain chemistry and your drug metabolism share more genetic architecture than most people realize.
9 variants spanning neuroplasticity, adenosine signaling, stress response, dopamine receptor density, and the CYP enzymes that metabolize caffeine, clopidogrel, warfarin, and other drugs.
The Biology
This is the most diverse area in Varia's catalog. It spans two related topics: the genetics of cognition and stress response, and the pharmacogenomics of drugs that act on the brain or are cleared by liver enzymes. They sit together because several of the drugs involved act on the brain, and a few enzymes clear many of them.
What Varia Analyzes
9 variants. BDNF Val66Met (rs6265), activity-dependent BDNF secretion and hippocampal function; ADORA2A (rs5751876), the A2A adenosine receptor and caffeine-related anxiety; FKBP5 (rs1360780), the HPA axis stress response; AKT1 (rs2494732), studied in relation to psychosis among regular cannabis users; ANKK1/DRD2 Taq1A (rs1800497), striatal dopamine D2 receptor density; CYP1A2 (rs762551), caffeine metabolism; CYP2C19 *17 (rs12248560) and *2 (rs4244285), the metabolism of clopidogrel, proton pump inhibitors, and other drugs; and CYP2C9 *3 (rs1057910), the metabolism of warfarin, NSAIDs, and other drugs.
Why It Matters
The CYP2C19 and CYP2C9 variants have published prescribing guidance: CPIC guidelines cover CYP2C19 genotype with clopidogrel and CYP2C9 genotype with warfarin. A result here is information for a prescriber, not a reason to start, stop, or change a medication on your own. FKBP5 is one of the most studied genetic markers of stress-related outcomes after trauma, and like the other variants here it describes a population association, not a diagnosis.
Not in Varia's Catalog
Some variants often discussed in this area are not in the catalog: COMT Val158Met (rs4680), GAD1 (rs3749034), CHRNA4 (rs1044396), CLOCK (rs1801260), ABCB1 (rs2032582), and FAAH (rs324420). Varia does not read these from your file, so a scan reports nothing about them either way.
Key Sources
- Egan MF, et al. The BDNF val66met polymorphism affects activity-dependent secretion of BDNF and human memory and hippocampal function. Cell. 2003.
- Binder EB, et al. Association of FKBP5 polymorphisms and childhood abuse with risk of PTSD symptoms in adults. JAMA. 2008.
- Scott SA, et al. CPIC guidelines for CYP2C19 genotype and clopidogrel therapy. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011.