Why Knowing Your COMT Variant Matters
Ever wonder why one person becomes calmer when responding to an emergency situation whereas other people shut down or lose it? COMT may be part of that story. COMT stands for catechol-O-methyltransferase, an enzyme that helps break down catechol compounds like dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
The version most people are talking about is called COMT Val158Met. It is more accurate to call this a genetic variant than a “mutation.” In general, Val/Val is the higher-activity form (called “Warriors”), Val/Met is the middle-ground form, and Met/Met is the lower-activity form (called “Worriers”).
Slow COMT
I personally have the Met/Met version, often called “slow COMT.” That does not mean something is “wrong” with me. It simply means my COMT enzyme tends to work more slowly, so I may clear certain stress-related brain chemicals more slowly than someone with Val/Val. In other words, my nervous system is not always in a rush to let things go and sometimes feels like it’s “on fire”.
For some people, slow COMT can come with challenges. It may show up as being more sensitive to stress, more reactive under pressure, more pain-sensitive, or feeling that classic “wired but tired” state. Research on anxiety is mixed overall, but the general pattern is that Met carriers can be more stress-sensitive in certain settings, especially when the system is already overloaded.
But slow COMT is not all downside. In lower-stress settings, Met carriers may have advantages in memory recall and cognitive stability with higher executive functioning. Put simply: when the environment is calm, the brain can perform beautifully. That is one reason some people with this pattern identify with strengths like deep focus, thoughtful problem-solving, and strong insight. So yes, sometimes we are “worriers”, but we can also be very good thinkers.
In my own life, I also see gifts that come with this wiring: creativity, empathy, depth, and the ability to connect dots quickly. No, that does not mean I can predict the future, but it does remind me that a gene variant can come with strengths as well as struggles.
Fast COMT
Val carriers may handle acute stress better, while Met carriers may do better in calmer, more cognitively steady situations. Val/Met often lands somewhere in the middle. Basically, one nervous system shines when the building is metaphorically on fire, and the other shines when it is time to think clearly, plan ahead, and remember where the missing document was saved.
People with faster COMT are more resilient under pressure and stress resilient. Some research suggests higher-activity COMT may come with less cognitive stability at baseline, even while supporting flexibility under stress. People with faster COMT may appear to have symptoms associated with ADHD, but that doesn't mean that they meet criteria for ADHD based on this one factor.
Just one piece of the puzzle when looking at Anxiety or ADHD
This matters because COMT can be a useful part of the conversation when someone is being evaluated for anxiety or ADHD, but it should never be treated as the whole story. Anxiety and ADHD are influenced by many factors. COMT may be one puzzle piece, but it is not the whole puzzle.
COMT may also be worth discussing when medication decisions are being made, especially with medications that affect dopamine or norepinephrine, such as bupropion (Wellbutrin). Bupropion is a norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor, and there is some early research looking at whether COMT genotype may influence response. This should be part of a thoughtful conversation with a healthcare provider.
Support options
For people who feel stress deeply or have slow COMT, daily nervous-system support can make a real difference. Practices like yoga, meditation, grounding, deep breathing, movement, and healthy sleep habits can help regulate stress and support overall well-being. Drinking chamomile or lavender tea can also be soothing and support your nervous system.
For people who have fast COMT, doing higher intensity workouts or running could be helpful. Appropriate amounts of caffeine and foods higher in dopamine producing chemicals such as chicken, turkey, eggs, yogurt, avocados, or dark chocolate could also be helpful.
If you are curious whether you carry the COMT Val158Met variant and what it may mean for your health, it can be helpful to look at it as part of your bigger picture. At Two Roads Wellness Clinic, we offer DNA testing and personalized health reports, including our Brain Health report which would show this variant based on YOUR DNA, to help people better understand their unique biochemistry and how to support it.
This information is educational and should not replace personalized medical advice. Please consult your primary care physician.
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