mental health

TPH2

Does This Gene Affect Your Risk of ADHD? (TPH2)

Written by John Williams, B.Sc on September 9th, 2020

The TPH2 gene is needed to make serotonin, a molecule associated with ADHD. Variants of TPH2 are associated with less serotonin production. Read on to find out if this is you and get some recommendations!

Summary

TPH2 encodes tryptophan hydroxylase 2, a protein used to make serotonin in the brain.

Some variants of TPH2 are associated with an increased risk of ADHD or increased ADHD severity. This is because they produce less TPH2 protein, which is needed to make serotonin.

Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications can counteract the effects of these variants by either increasing serotonin levels directly, increasing tryptophan levels so that more serotonin can be made or making it easier for tryptophan to enter the brain.

TPH2 and ADHD

The TPH2 gene encodes the protein tryptophan hydroxylase 2. This protein helps turn tryptophan into serotonin in the brain.

Some variants result in less serotonin being produced. Low serotonin levels are associated with ADHD and ADHD-like symptoms. [R, R, R, R]

Your TPH2 Results for ADHD

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs1843809
rs1386497
rs11179027
rs4570625

Primary SNP:

TPH2 rs1843809 [R, R]:

‘T’ = associated with increased risk of ADHD
‘G’ = not associated with ADHD risk

Other Important SNPs:

TPH2 rs1386497

‘A’ = associated with increased risk of ADHD
‘C’ = not associated with ADHD risk

TPH2 rs11179027

‘C’ = associated with increased risk of ADHD
‘G’ = not associated with ADHD risk

TPH2 rs4570625 [R]:

‘G’ = associated with increased severity of ADHD symptoms
‘T’ = not associated with increased severity of ADHD symptoms

Recommendations

Lifestyle

Exercise

Exercise increases tryptophan in the brain — since tryptophan is needed to make serotonin, that should boost serotonin levels as well [R, R].

Exercise should be performed on a regular basis to obtain its proper benefit.

Exercise has been associated with reduced ADHD symptoms in children [R, R, R, R] and is recommended by the health care systems of multiple countries (including the U.S.) [R, R, R].

There is strong evidence that shows patients with ADHD benefit from regular physical exercise.

Yoga and Mindfulness

Yoga and mindfulness-based therapies may relieve stress and support mental health by increasing serotonin levels. Studies suggest their potential to reduce ADHD symptoms in children and adults [R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R, R].

Supplements

Bacopa

Bacopa (Bacopa monnieri) may enhance cognitive function and attention, in part by increasing serotonin levels [R, R].

In one review, bacopa extract (300 mg/day) improved language skills, hyperactivity, and attention deficit in children and adolescents [R].

Fish Oil (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)

Omega-3 levels are lower in children with ADHD and taking supplements seems to show a modest improvement [R, R, R].

These supplements generally contain many kinds of fatty acids: EPA helps by causing your nerve cells to release more serotonin whereas DHA makes the receptor that serotonin has to grab on to more accessible so that it can start doing its job [R].

Consider supplementing with Omega-3 fatty acids — they may provide a small benefit.

John Williams

B.Sc

John received his BSc from the University of Toronto. John has spent the last several years teaching high school science and math to English-language learners, which has forced him to learn how to simplify difficult concepts as much as possible. He has also worked in two different research labs and has experience as a student intern working and studying under doctors in hospitals and clinics to help diagnose and treat patients, interpret lab results and fill out mountains of paperwork.

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)

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