mental health

PAX6

Genes That Link Nerve Growth With Depression (PAX)

Written by Aleksa Ristic, MS (Pharmacy) on October 3rd, 2020

One family of genes controlling nerve growth can be your friend or foe when it comes to mental health. Read this post to learn the link between PAX genes and depression — personalized tips included!

Summary

The PAX5 and PAX6 genes are crucial for nerve growth and brain development. Impairments in their function have been associated with different mental health disorders.Specific PAX variants correlate with higher odds of depression, likely due to their adverse effects on nerve growth.There are simple measures you could take to prevent and reduce depression by targeting your PAX variants.

How PAX Genes Influence Mental Health

The PAX5 and PAX6 genes help make proteins from the PAX family. These proteins control the activity of different genes involved in developing eyes, skin, immune cells, nervous system, and more [R, R].

Scientists are still investigating the exact role of PAX genes in mental health. Variants in these genes correlate with depression, while more severe mutations can result in mental retardation. The negative effects likely stem from suppressed growth and development of brain cells [R, R].

PAX genes are crucial for brain development and nerve growth. Variants in these genes correlate with depression and other mental health disorders.

Your PAX Results for Depression

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs3824344
rs1806153
rs2071754

Primary SNPs:

PAX5 rs3824344 [R, R]

‘T’ – associated with higher odds of depression
‘C’ – not associated with depression

PAX6 rs1806153 [R, R]

‘T’ – associated with higher odds of depression
‘G’ – not associated with depression

Another important SNP:

PAX6 rs2071754 [R]

‘C’ – associated with higher odds of depression
‘T’ – not associated with depression

Most PAX variants also correlate with neuroticism, a tendency toward different negative and disruptive feelings [R, R].

Recommendations

Lifestyle

Sunlight Exposure

Mood issues appear to follow a strong seasonal pattern, being the worst during winter [R].

Sunlight exposure helps reduce anxiety and depression. It boosts beneficial neurotransmitters and stimulates the growth and development of brain cells thus reducing the impact of your PAX variants [R, R, R, R, R].

Insufficient sun exposure is the primary risk factor for vitamin D deficiency, which correlates with depression [R, R, R].

Increased sunlight exposure may prevent depression by targeting your PAX variants.

Exercise

Exercise is one of the best ways to boost nerve growth or neurogenesis naturally, making it an ideal choice for people with PAX variants [R, R, R, R].

People who exercise regularly have lower rates of depression. Those with a history of depression are at a lower risk of relapse if they maintain physical fitness [R, R, R].

Aerobic exercise and resistance training have potent benefits for mental health and depression [R, R].

Regular exercise can lessen the negative impact of your PAX gene on mental health.

Supplements

Omega-3

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, EPA and DHA, are critical for brain growth and protection. They can help form new connections in the brain regions responsible for mood and emotions [R, R].

The potential of omega-3s to stimulate nerve growth may be responsible for their beneficial effects on mood and mental health [R, R].

Omega-3 supplementation may help both people with clinical depression and non-diagnosed individuals with depressive symptoms. It may also enhance the effectiveness of drug treatment [R, R, R].

EPA seems to be the most beneficial type of omega-3 for depression-related symptoms [R].

Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil may reduce depressive symptoms by targeting your PAX variants.

Aleksa Ristic

MS (Pharmacy)

Aleksa received his MS in Pharmacy from the University of Belgrade, his master thesis focusing on protein sources in plant-based diets.

Aleksa is passionate about herbal pharmacy, nutrition, and functional medicine. He found a way to merge his two biggest passions—writing and health—and use them for noble purposes. His mission is to bridge the gap between science and everyday life, helping readers improve their health and feel better.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

More mental health blogs

How to Be a Better Dater (HTR2A) How to Increase Your Chances of a Romantic Relationship (5HT1A) Are You Genetically Vulnerable to High Brain Histamine, Migraines, or ADHD? (HNMT) Protect Yourself Against Stress and Mood Problems with the Oxytocin (OXTR) Gene Beat “Brain Fog” With The Cannabinoid System (CNR1) Boost Your Cognitive Ability By Protecting Your Dopamine Neurons (LMX1A) How Emotionally Self-Aware Are You? (5HT1A) The Gene That Increases Cognitive Processing Speed by Inhibiting Inflammation (NFKBIL1) The Key Dopamine Receptor Gene That Influences Your Intelligence And Creativity (DRD2) How to Increase Intelligence and Enhance Learning (BDNF)

Content

Summary How PAX Genes Influence Mental Health Your PAX Results for Depression

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Shipping Worldwide

30-Days Money-Back Guarantee*

HSA/FSA Eligible

Essential Bundle

SelfDecode DNA Kit

24/7 AI Health Coach
1250+ Comprehensive DNA Health Reports
Personalized Diet, Supplement, & Lifestyle Recommendations
Lifestyle Risk Assessments
Unlimited access to Labs Analyzer

$418

$376

Men's Health Month 10% Off

Essential

Bundle

Everything in essential
SelfDecode DNA Kit
Methylation Pathway
+130 Medical Reports
25+ Longevity Screener Risk Assessments

Odds ratios to evaluate your risk for 25+ medical conditions
10-year risk scores to prioritize health conditions
Lifetime risk scores to plan for long-term health

$667

$566

Men's Health Month 15% Off

Men's Health Month 30% Off

Ultimate Bundle

Everything in essential+
SelfDecode DNA Kit
Medication Check (PGx testing) for 50+ medications
40+ Family Planning (Carrier Status) Reports
Ancestry Percentages
Mitochondrial Ancestry

$894

$625

* SelfDecode DNA kits are non-refundable. If you choose to cancel your plan within 30 days you will not be refunded the cost of the kit.

We will never share your data

We follow HIPAA and GDPR policies

We have World-Class Encryption & Security

People Love Us

Rated 4.7/5 from 750+ reviews

People Trust Us

200,000+ users, 2,000+ doctors & 80+ businesses

SelfDecode is a personalized health report service, which enables users to obtain detailed information and reports based on their genome. SelfDecode strongly encourages those who use our service to consult and work with an experienced healthcare provider as our services are not to replace the relationship with a licensed doctor or regular medical screenings.

Policies

About

Support
Our Team
Affiliate Program
Privacy
Media