Autism/ADHD and MTHFR (Part 1)

Part 1 of Autism/ADHD and MTHFR:

On the genetics topic again with Autism and ADHD, to explain why these conditions are mostly nothing to do with them being caused by genetics, and why there are always other factors which cause Autism/ADHD or contribute to their presentation and symptoms.

You may or may not have heard of the MTHFR gene. This is an acronym for Methylene Tetra Hydro Folate Reductase, which is a gene we all have, and in turn produces a protein/enzyme in the body, also called MTHFR. This enzyme is needed for the metabolism of folate (vitamin B9) from its inactive form in foods into the active form of folate, called methylfolate, so your body can use it.

A large percentage of the population, approximately 40%, have a variant to one or both of the main types of MTHFR genes. This is NOT a genetic mutation at all, as mutations are changes to genes being different to what your parents had, or a genetic change within your lifetime, typically due to viruses, chemical toxicities, or radiation. A genetic variant is often a historical change or difference to a gene which is not “normal”, usually due to a single DNA building block/protein being replaced by another. These variants can be passed onto children and their children.

Two of the main MTHFR gene variants occur to the MTHFR C677T and A1298C genes.

The MTHFR genes are also related to energy production, genetic expression, production of neurotransmitters for good mental health balance, and detoxification. Hence any variant to the MTHFR genes can have a minor, moderate or even a severe impact on these body functions. All of these functions are typically compromised in people with Autism/ADHD.

But why are Autism/ADHD conditions not genetic, if they can be related to genetic variants to the MTHFR genes?!

Because of epigenetics. This is the science of how your environmental factors can interact with your genes to turn them on or turn them off to contribute to your health or to cause disease symptoms and conditions. Hence you may have a genetic predisposition to certain symptoms or health issues, but only if triggered by your epigenetic/environmental factors. These include stress, toxicities, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation and oxidative damage, and more. Or if you do all the right things and reduce these factors, even though you might have the genetic variants and their predisposition to symptoms, you can effectively turn off the genetic variants and reduce or eliminate your risk of their related symptoms and conditions.

Hence your epigenetic/environmental factors are far more responsible for your health (or your symptoms and conditions) than your genetics alone! This is why Autism/ADHD is not normal at all, not caused by genetics alone, and why when the epigenetic/environmental factors or triggers are reduced, avoided or fixed, the symptoms and conditions of Autism/ADHD can reduce, or be cleared and reversed.

You can test for your MTHFR status with a genetic test, which reports on whether you have none, one or both variants of the MTHFR gene, and also whether you have one or both copies of the variation from both your parents. However, there are limitations to getting the MTHFR genetic test, with one being that it’s not the only test which is needed to be done to find the causes or results of the MTHFR variant contributing to your health issues. The tests needed can differ from person to person, depending on your symptoms and conditions. However, this is something that I can help you with.

See my follow up this article on this topic, with part 2 on issues with the MTHFR variants and Autism/ADHD.