Research shows 5% of women and 3.5% of men have the drama queen gene

Are you the type of person who tends to get a little bit dramatic when something bad or unexpected happens? Other people might take a deep breath and try to process the news, but you’re already having a total meltdown.

If this sounds like you, it’s possible you could have the drama queen gene. And yes, men can be drama queens too. According to research by the DNA Company, 5% of women and 3.5% of men have the drama queen gene.

Because this gene involves an important neurochemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), it can influence you in a number of ways. That’s why it’s vital to get your genes tested so you can discover whether you have the drama queen gene.

The drama queen gene

Everyone can get a little dramatic from time to time, but what makes you a natural-born drama queen? It all comes down to your BDNF levels.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is a protein that helps your neurons grow and form new connections. It’s essential to have proper BDNF levels in order for your brain to perform at its maximum potential.

The BDNF gene, as you might expect, is responsible for producing BDNF. Certain variations in the BDNF gene can lead to low BDNF levels, which can cause a myriad of health problems.

If you have the suboptimal version of the BDNF gene, you’re probably going to get labeled as a drama queen. Because your low BDNF levels make your neurons less flexible and less capable of forming new connections, you’re more likely to have an extreme emotional reaction to an unexpected change.

As someone with low BDNF, you might also find yourself ruminating on past events longer than most people would. Perhaps you often lie awake at night thinking about what you could have done differently that day–or maybe you spend lots of time rehearsing future conversations in your mind to make you feel more prepared for them.

Other impacts of low BDNF

Having low BDNF levels can result in other issues besides the drama queen response. Because BDNF is so crucial to overall brain function, not having enough can affect your health in many ways.

Low BDNF can lead to disrupted sleep patterns. It makes it more difficult for you to get enough deep sleep, and it also can make you more sensitive to blue light before bed. That’s why we recommend you turn off all of your devices at least an hour before going to sleep.

Another result of low BDNF is increasing your risk of concussion. This is because BDNF functions like an armored plate around your brain that protects you from severe injury and helps you recover quickly. Not having enough BDNF makes you more likely to get a concussion and struggle to bounce back from it.

Along with other genes, the BDNF gene impacts your likelihood of developing a heightened PTSD response. Low BDNF levels can cause you to become stuck in a traumatic event in a way that’s more intense than what most people experience.

That being said, low BDNF is not all bad. It can give you the ability to become a deep thinker and an expert in your field due to your tendency to focus on details. You also may be more emotionally intelligent and able to empathize with others.

How to boost your BDNF levels

It might sound overwhelming to consider how your brain is affected by low BDNF, but there are steps you can take to mitigate the effects. In order to reduce the negative impacts of low BDNF, you need to find ways to increase your BDNF production. Here are some strategies you can try:

• Practice intermittent fasting
• Use a sauna as often as possible
• Exercise frequently
• Avoid screens at night
• Incorporate foods with DHA and AHA into your diet such as hemp seeds, nuts, flaxseed, chia seeds, seaweed, and fish
• Eat plenty of foods with magnesium and D vitamins including lentils, beans, peas, oats, barley, avocados, bananas, salmon, and cashews
• Increase your consumption of medicinal mushrooms such as reishi, lion’s mane, and cordyceps
• Try supplements like green coffee fruit extract and magnesium threonate

Are you wondering whether you’re genetically predisposed towards being a drama queen? The best way to find out is by decoding your genes through our 360 DNA Report. You’ll discover whether you have low BDNF as well as 37 other custom reports surrounding sleep, diet, nutrition, hormones, fitness, cardiovascular health, immunity, and behavior.