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Methylation & Brain Health (With a Focus on Undermethylation)

Courtney Snyder, MD - Holistic Psychiatrist

37,873 views

Methylation is a fundamental biochemical process that shapes how your genes are expressed, how well we detoxify, and how our brain produces and manages neurotransmitters. In this episode I focus on undermethylation — what it is, how it's tested, and how nutrient-based treatment can make a significant difference for people with anxiety, OCD, depression and related conditions. Drawing on the research of the Walsh Research Institute with over 30,000 patients, I walk through the traits, symptoms and science behind this common imbalance.

0:00 Introduction
1:26 What is undermethylation?
2:10 Traits and personality of the undermethylated individual
4:25 How methylation drives brain chemistry
5:17 Symptoms and associated conditions
7:17 Undermethylation in children
8:28 Anxiety, OCD and undermethylation
11:33 MTHFR, COMT and genetic factors
14:27 Testing: whole blood histamine and methylation profile
15:12 Treatment: nutrients that support methylation

To learn more visit:

CourtneySnyderMD.com

Medical Disclaimer:

This episode is for educational purposes and not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for either yourself or others, including but not limited to patients that you are treating (if you are a practitioner). Consult your physician for any medical issues that you may be having.

20 Comments

@sheilasmith1109 3 years ago

First time viewer here! Nutritional Therapist and Functional Medicine student & advocate. Thank you, good Dr, for this great video that offers insight into such a much needed topic for discussion and public awareness! There NEEDS to be MORE Psychiatrists taking the path of Neurobiology and brain chemistry based CARE! Finding a ROOT CAUSE to all that plagues our lives and society is admirable and necessary! ❤

@vasuanisetti3465 2 years ago

As an aside, you have a lovely soothing voice!

@janmartell9792 4 years ago (edited)

I am an undermethylator, but I am not highly motivated or competitive. I do suffer from major depression. I'm 63 and this began when I was a little child.

@stephm.3407 3 years ago

Thank you for mentioning CIRS and how mold/mycotoxins can be part of the equation and should be taken into consideration. Kudos, so many folks don't ever consider that, and how that impacts functioning & recommendations.

@SueDamron 3 years ago

I just found you!! Excellent presentation of under methylation with the caveat of fixing things like high homocysteine levels and/or other areas first. A really intelligent approach to what may be driving the obvious symptoms like depression and anxiety! I will subscribe and also watch more of the information you have to share! I’m a retired Registered Nurse but with a holistic bent. Medicine is lacking in this important area to restore health and well-being. Thank you for your service to us all!

@janmartell9792 4 years ago

Wonderful talk! Very easy to understand. Dirty Genes is too complicated.

@C.J.K.1234 1 year ago (edited)

Is there anyone here with OCD who was treated by the Walsh Protocol? I am dealing with OCD and depression and wonder how much of a long-term difference this treatment would make (maybe compared with SSRI treatment).
Synthetic or some natural SSRI's have helped me but they couldn't by far give complete healing.

@Dischordian 3 years ago

15:10 treatments

@Jamie_Elbers 2 years ago (edited)

Msm is great for undermethylation (methyl doner) and flush niacin for over(methyl subtracter). methylene blue is great for under methylation too. Vitamin k2 MK4 (emu oil) is important to the Krebs cycle too like the others mentioned above. Carnivore diet for bioavailable b vitamins.

@think2023 2 years ago

I listen at 1.75 x speed.
Every word is still clear

@Irongaint 2 months ago

You just explained my life 😳

@holysmoke3201 4 years ago (edited)

This is one of the best videos I've come across re:methylation and how it relates to mental health/personality and overall wellbeing. I know how much better I feel and function since addressing this issue years ago - just wish more medical professionals and lay people were aware of this. Dr.Snyder breaks it down beautifully in simple easy to understand terms. Bravo!!

Just a quick question - can environmental toxic exposure cause methylation glitches on the MTHR gene? I've always wondered if those methylation gene glitches can be ACQUIRED rather than just inherited. Thanks :)

@christinemurphy4367 3 years ago

I am most grateful for this information. I believe I am undermethlayted and I would like to learn what I can do to reduce anxiety and depression. I really appreciate this video. I am a bit overwhelmed however as it seems complicated and I think it’ll be difficult for me to change my diet. ❤😢😊

@ava.artemis 10 months ago

Super helpful, thank you. 🙏🏽

@TotalInfluencer 6 months ago (edited)

Creatine maybe the best supplement for undermethylation, since most of the methyl groups are spent on production of your own creatine in the body.

@livinorganically 1 year ago

🤯 This is such amazingly insightful! Thank you!

@MariaReyes-jp4lb 4 years ago

Thank you so much. I was tested for this and I have both mutations and currently testing two of my daughters that have symptoms I had so this will be life changing for them/all of us. 11 yr old has extreme adhd, depression, bipolar (it’s called something else but I can’t remember the name for a child,) 30 yr old has the exact symptoms as I did also. Adhd, bipolar, and more. Her vit b12 is deficient, low magnesium, and so much more. Antidepressants that work for me work for her, some make us very sick, some antibiotics make us sick as well. My 11 year old has a very rare lymphatic disease (less than less than normal and 200,000 in the population have this,) she is not a candidate for a transplant. She is going to get generic testing for this and many other genetic tests. I’m excited to see the results. I’ve been advocating for my children because some drs seem to have no understanding of this for some reason. Thank you for this very informative video.