How a Blood Test Can Reveal One Major Cause of Depression

Genes, diet and toxic homocysteine

Maria Cross
Feed Your Brain
Published in
4 min readOct 3, 2024

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Of all the possible reasons to feel depressed, a genetic mutation is probably the least likely to spring to mind. It’s also the least likely to be investigated. The evidence suggests it should be.

A simple blood test could tell you if you have a genetic mutation, or variation, that leads to elevated levels of an amino acid called homocysteine. When homocysteine accumulates, it becomes a risk factor in the development of several mental health disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder.

Central to this connection is a biochemical process called methylation. Methylation is like a switch, that when turned on makes things happen in every cell of the body. Methylation switches on protein structures, including neurotransmitters and enzymes.

In the brain, this process activates neurotransmitters, thus playing an important role in mood regulation.

Homocysteine is a by-product of the methylation process. It is then broken down by the enzyme MTHFR. If the gene that codes for that enzyme is faulty, the result can be impaired MTHFR activity and, consequently, elevated homocysteine.

Mutant genes

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Maria Cross
Feed Your Brain

MSc. Registered nutritionist, specialising in gut and mental health. OUT NOW! My new book, How to Feed Your Brain. mariacrossnutrition @mariacross