SLC6A4 encodes a serotonin transporter protein. SLC6A4 variants have been linked to many conditions, including [R]: affective disorders (anxiety, mood, other) also ASD, PTSD, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
May help: Exercise, Vitamin D, Stress management; if the you have 5HTTLPR is the most well-researched variant of SCL6A4, you may also benefit from tips for the “Highly sensitive person,
Impaired SLC6A4 gene function correlates with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Some research suggests that SLC6A4 variants may increase the brain’s sensitivity to certain environmental changes; people with these variants are more likely to become anxious, but also respond more positively to good things happening [R, R].
SLC6A4 rs2066713 [R] my genotype GG Frequency 39%
- ‘G’ = Associated with higher rates of chronic fatigue syndrome
- ‘A’ = Possibly protective against chronic fatigue syndrome
- The ‘G’ allele may increase the brain’s sensitivity to both good and bad environmental changes [R, R].
People with SLC6A4 variants are more sensitive to stress, but also more likely to benefit from positive experiences. Thus, stress management strategies are essential for managing CFS [R, R].
Stress and fatigue are closely and reciprocally linked, meaning they often co-occur and can influence each other. Stressful life events can cause not only PTSD, but also chronic fatigue syndrome. Similarly, occupational exposure to traumatic events of others (e.g., by healthcare workers) causes physical and mental fatigue, and may reduce empathy [R, R, R, R, R]. These types of symptoms can be associated with chronic stress and burnout (emotional and physical exhaustion), some people with burnout can become stuck on burnout, anxiety and depression loop.