What to watch with COMT and Müdigkeit?

The COMT rs4680 (Val158Met) variant affects dopamine breakdown in the prefrontal cortex. Carriers of the slow Met/Met variant have higher baseline dopamine levels, which can be beneficial under calm conditions but may lead to system overload under stress or fatigue. Studies show a moderate association between COMT and fatigue states, especially in chronic stress or sleep deprivation. However, the evidence is not strong enough for direct prediction. Importantly, COMT interacts with other genes (e.g., MAOA, BDNF) and lifestyle factors like caffeine (CYP1A2), sleep quality, and stress management. A single gene test tells you little about your actual fatigue. Focus on balanced lifestyle, adequate sleep, and medical evaluation for persistent fatigue. Consumer tests often overstate the predictive power of individual genes.