I have received the results of my Promethease and the analysis of my 23andme data.
I am the very rare rs6265(A;A) (Met/Met) for the Val66Met polymorphism
introversion; depression resistant; impaired motor skills learning Met/met (higher risk) variant of the Val66Met snp in the BDNF gene that codes for brain-derived neurotrophic factor.
Met/met is associated with susceptibility to neuropsychiatric disorders. associated with introversion This genotype may provide resistance to depression when subjected to repeated defeat blog summary On a driving-based motor learning task subjects with this genotype showed greater error during short-term learning and poorer retention over 4 days, relative to subjects without the polymorphism. The presence of this BDNF polymorphism is associated with differences in brain motor system function, altered short-term plasticity, and greater error in short-term motor learning.
Although the val66met polymorphism does not seem to affect the activity of mature BDNF, the intracellular trafficking and activity-dependent secretion of BDNF is altered (Egan et al., 2003). At a cellular level, there appears to be a met-dose effect on intracellular localisation (Chen et al., 2004) and regulation of activity-dependent secretion of BDNF (Chen et al., 2006). Variations in n-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) levels in the hippocampus associated with the met-allele also suggest a functional met-dose effect.
Prior to knowing all of this I tried Cerebrolysin for the first time to help with a graduate exam I had previously done poorly on. While on Cerebrolysin I retook the exam and scored significantly higher than my previous score. In fact the range of improvement was considered an outlier according to their past statistics concerning retakes in general. Cerebrolysin improved all aspects of my life. Now I know why.
I need everyone's help. I have to find ways to increase BDNF expression.
1. I am in the US. Obtaining a cerebrolysin prescription seems improbable and so I have ordered online from a vendor. It would just be easier to have a script. Does anyone know how I can obtain one?
2. What supplements should I be taking to increase BDNF? Should I stop Adderall and Memantine? (just began lithium oronate)
My father passed away from early-onset Alzheimer's, and my suspicion now is that this and poor lifestyle was the cause. He tested negative for the usual genetic risk factors, APOE4 etc.