January 31, 2024 • 35 mins
Unlock the secrets of your mind and DNA with Dr. Tiffany Montgomery and Tak Williams as they guide us through the fascinating interplay of genetics and mental health. This journey promises to illuminate the hidden ways our genetic makeup can influence our psyche, offering a clearer understanding of ourselves and our mental well-being. With the Doctors' expertise in infectious disease and Tak's community mentorship, our hosts reveal the scientific threads that connect our genes to our emotions and behaviors, shattering the myths and simplifying the science behind what makes us tick mentally.
Ever wondered what mental resilience really looks like and how it's wired within us? Dr. Montgomery and Tak provide a compassionate roadmap for nurturing our psychological health, especially for those without the luxury of financial resources. They share actionable strategies for bolstering mental fortitude, stress the normalcy of fluctuating mental states, and discuss the role genetic markers play in our ability to weather life's storms. Their conversation resonates with authenticity, offering solace and solutions for anyone striving to maintain mental balance in a turbulent world.
As we gaze into the future of mental health care, our hosts explore the revolutionary potential of AI and genetic research in crafting personalized wellness journeys. They delve into how these advancements could redefine treatment, support, and resilience – and the promise it holds for people from all walks of life. With Dr. Montgomery as our guiding hand, this episode extends an invitation to remain curious and proactive in our quest for mental clarity, emphasizing that help and hope are within reach for everyone. Tune in for an episode that not only enlightens but also empowers as we continue to decode the profound impact our DNA has on our mental landscape.
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Episode Transcript
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Theme Song (00:04):
P23 Knowledge, access, power.
P23, wellness and Understandingat your Fingertips P23.
And that's no Cap.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (00:21):
Welcome back to Demystifying DNA, the
podcast where we explore thewonders of genetics and their
impact on our lives.
I'm your host, the curious lady, Dr.
Tiffany Montgomery.
Scientists and epidemiologists,I study population health and
(00:42):
infectious disease.
I like to make it very clearwhile I'm not a medical doctor,
I am a scientific researcherthrough and through and I am
thrilled to have you join metoday as we dive deep into the
intricate world of genetics andmental health.
In this episode, decoding Minds, unraveling the Genetics of
(01:09):
Mental Health, will embark on afascinating journey to
understand how our genes shapeour mental well-being.
Joining me today is fellowco-host, mr Tak Williams.
Some of you have met Tak beforeon the previous podcast.
You all really enjoyed ourdialogue, so we had to have Tak
(01:33):
back.
Why?
Because, as I told you, toc isa people expert, father of five,
computer IT extraordinaire,guru, mentor, leader, teacher in
his community, very involved inthe lives of others and shaping
young minds.
(01:54):
Toc is motivational, relatableand an educated person to talk
to and because of his love forpeople we had to have him back
right.
Welcome, Tak.
Tak Williams (02:08):
Hey, welcome everybody.
I want to say thank you firstand foremost to Dr.
Montgomery for having me back.
I'm just as excited as I waswhen I was first invited to your
platform and even more excitedbecause it seems like there were
listeners who had some greatquestions.
(02:31):
I think the dialogue we hadbefore and that's typical of
your platform, your podcast ismore of a dialogue.
It's not like one way youengage the listeners and the
listeners respond.
Just think that that's howgrowth works, especially in a
positive direction.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (02:50):
Well, thank you, Tak.
I appreciate that feedback,especially coming from someone
who has their own phenomenalpodcast.
Tak and I are working throughthis because he's a podcast host
, I'm a host and so he's workingon being a guest, right, so
don't steal my show, Tak, but weare so glad that you joined us.
Tak has his own show, TakWilliams, and he's a great host.
(03:13):
I'm going to talk about thetopic of the next episode of the
Top 50.
Top 50 is not scientific at all, so no competition there.
But I tell you what?
Tak just has a dynamic way oflooking at things and presenting
it.
So, for today, we're going tobe talking about a wide range of
mental health topics as itrelates to the focus of the
topic.
So we're going to be talkingabout the focus of the topic.
(03:35):
So we're going to be talkingabout the focus of the topic.
So let's get started, let'stalk, let's dive in with Tak for
what promises to be anintriguing discussion.
So, toc, Mr.
(03:58):
Tak, welcome back, sir.
Tak Williams (04:02):
Thank you.
I'm curious.
I have a question just rightoff the top.
I feel like a listener at thispoint Mental health, genetics.
From the mental health side,I've been walking around for
years, and probably many othershave also, and we tend to
(04:23):
generalize what things are.
If someone was to ask me do youknow what mental health is?
That first initial question Iwould feel confident that I
could respond.
But the moment I begin to thinkabout what my definition would
be, I just would hit the brakesand I say hold up, you know like
(04:44):
what is that?
And that's because more peopleexperience mental health versus
articulating it, expressing it.
So I would ask you what ismental health?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (04:58):
So, Todd , I'm glad you asked, and it's
crazy because when you come on,our conversations are so organic
.
It's almost like descriptive,and I promise they're not.
But that's a great way.
If I had given somebody aquestion and said this is how I
want you to start my show, thatwould be it, Because we have to
(05:19):
define what it is we're talkingabout.
It's a term we hear thrown fromleft to right.
It's like what is mental health?
Mental health refers to aperson's emotional,
psychological and socialwell-being.
It factors all three of thosethings.
(05:39):
It involves the individual'sability to handle stress, relate
to others and make decisions.
So you've got three thingsgoing into.
Three things cause and effectat the same time, and that's why
it's so complicated.
Mental health is influenced by avariety of factors, and
(05:59):
genetics plays a significantrole in shaping an individual's
susceptibility to certain mentalhealth conditions.
Genetics refers to the study ofgenes and how traits and
characteristics are inheritedfrom one generation to the next.
We reset this definition everytime we do this podcast because,
(06:24):
like I always say, I'm notexpecting anybody heard the
previous one.
We're going to start right heretoday and I don't want you to
feel lost.
This is not a Marvel episodewhere you got to go back and
understand how Captain Americawas conceived to get here.
We're going to help you rightwhere you are.
Many mental health disordershave a genetic component,
(06:45):
meaning that they can run infamilies.
Now, genetics alone doesn'tdetermine why someone will
develop a mental health disorder, but it can contribute to
increase vulnerability.
You know when we talk aboutgenetics and epigenetics and how
these things are expressed, sowe have to be mindful of the
(07:06):
role that genes play.
Tak Williams (07:08):
I would like to say that that's probably why I
think that many of us experienceit instead of articulating it,
because what you said is what Ithink and it's definitely what I
experienced, just being a humanbeing, I've seen, I've
witnessed and I've alsoexperienced over the years times
(07:32):
where, like physical health,you know, I felt good physically
, I felt like I could dowhatever it was that I needed to
to address maybe my weight, toaddress my metabolism, my diet,
and at times that carried overto my mental health, feeling
good, you know, having thatoutwith perspective, feeling
(07:54):
positive, just feeling great.
The energy is there and but Inever really thought about it as
mental health in and of itselfand that's why, you know, your
response to my question reallyhelps to clear that up.
So thanks for that.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (08:12):
Talk.
You know it's my pleasure and Ijust want to understand it and
help you understand therelationship between mental
health and genetics.
It covers at least sixdifferent parts.
You've got your geneticpredisposition, so you've got
the certain genetic factors thatincrease the likelihood of
(08:35):
developing mental healthdisorders, and these genetic
predispositions may involvevariations in a specific gene
related to brain function,neurotransmitter regulation or
even response to stress.
Heritability, which is theextent to which gene factors
contribute to the development orparticular of a particular
(08:57):
trait or condition.
Mental health disorders oftenhave a varying degrees of
heritability, including theinfluence of genetics on their
occurrence.
So mental health is a complexinterplay between genetics and
environmental factors.
What do we call that?
Epigenetics.
(09:18):
While genetics contribute,environmental influence such as
stress, trauma, family dynamicsand life experiences also play a
crucial role in the onset andcourse of mental health
conditions.
They have a polygenic nature.
Many mental health disordersare polygenic.
(09:41):
They involve multiple genes,not one multiple.
The interaction of numerousgenetic variations along with
environmental factors contributeto the complexity of
understanding and predictingmental health outcomes.
Again, flat out epigenetics,because epigenetics factors can
(10:07):
influence gene expressionwithout altering the underlying
DNA sequence.
Environmental factors such asstress or early life experiences
or trauma can modify geneactivity, impacting mental
health outcomes.
And then you've got risk andresilience.
(10:27):
So, just like we talked aboutinfectious diseases playing a
role in how resilient you are,how susceptible you are, we've
got those same factors withmental health.
While some genetic factors mayincrease the risk of mental
health disorders, others maycontribute to the resilience.
(10:47):
Protective genetic factors andcoping mechanisms can play a
role in mitigating the impact ofenvironmental stressors.
Tak Williams (10:59):
I would like to ask what is the difference
between mental health illnessand maybe a mental disorder?
Because I talked to a friend ofmine a couple months ago and
she told me she was taking sometime off from work and I was
kind of asking, like you know,what's going on and she said
(11:22):
that she had to deal with somemental health issues.
Now, later on, she explained tome that she had a mental
disorder, and I really didn'tget into it real deep with her
in terms of why or where was thedemarcation line, like where
did it cross over between itbeing a mental health issue and
(11:46):
now there's a mental disorder?
But from what I gathered fromher, when she was explaining her
mental health issues, this wasmore of her saying what she was
going through, what she realizedand recognized, and it was sort
of like a self-dagnosing ofmaybe her mood or her energy or
(12:07):
her current status on herself,her biofeedback, whatever.
And then when she went toexplain the mental disorder, it
was, like you know, she wasdiagnosed by maybe a
professional or a doctor orwhoever.
And so I guess my question is ismental health a general term
(12:30):
that's used as an umbrella andthen underneath that you'll find
mental disorders, or are theyseparate in and of themselves?
Because it seems like peoplethat I've been around and myself
, when we go to discuss it, wehave conversations, it jumps
over.
You know, five minutes into itwe're talking about the same
(12:53):
subject matter, maybe somethinglike drugs or addiction or
different things like that, andnow we're talking about what
appears to me, or as Iunderstand it, as a mental
disorder, even though theconversation was about mental
health.
So if you could just shed somelight on that, just add a little
color to what the differencesare, or where does it break off
(13:14):
at?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (13:15):
So this answer I'm going to give it to
you two ways.
For our science junkie nerds,it's like talking about
physiology versus pathology, allright.
For our non-science nerds, itis like talking about let's go
(13:40):
to the science nerd part.
Mental health is a term thatcan be overly generalized or
overly abused All right.
So we all have mental health.
So for my non-science people,it's like saying you have an
attitude, all right, everybodyhas an attitude.
(14:02):
Somewhere along in our societythat's become a negative
connotation.
Somebody said you have anattitude, you automatically get
defensive and you want to provewhy you don't have attitude.
But hey, here's the deal.
Good, bad or neutral, we allhave an attitude.
Okay, attitude is somethingthat everybody has.
It's the same with mentalhealth.
(14:24):
Mental health is something thateverybody has.
When it goes wrong or when itdoesn't operate in the way that
we expect or we can understand,it then becomes a mental health
disorder, disease or illness.
Mental health can be a one-timething, like a crisis that
(14:44):
you're having, or it can be along-term thing, which is a
disorder or illness, orsomething that happens over time
.
For my science people,physiology is what we all have.
Everybody has physiology.
Okay, it's universal.
Some of us have diseases.
Some of us have illnesses orailments or something that
(15:05):
doesn't just go the way thetextbook says it's supposed to
go.
Your ear is shaped a littlefunny.
Maybe you have one hand biggerthan the other, or one finger
longer than the other, andthat's supposed to be
symmetrical.
They can be subtle differences,but that becomes a pathology or
something that's not workingright.
So you've got physiology, whicheverybody has, you've got
(15:31):
attitude, which everybody has,and you've got mental health,
which everybody has, and thenyou've got times where these
things don't go the way we thinkthey should.
So mental health and mentalhealth disorders are not the
same.
Mental health refers to youroverall well-being, including
your thoughts, feelings andbehaviors.
Like we said, right, mentalhealth disorders are diagnosable
(15:56):
conditions that affect yourmental functioning and cause
distress and impairment.
Everyone has mental health, butnot everyone has mental health
disorder.
Now you've got to remember yourmental health can change over
time, depending on factors,because of all the factors that
(16:19):
contribute to your mental health.
So it's important to understandthe complexity of what goes
into mental health.
Okay, now, some of the thingsthat I want to make sure we talk
about are the significance ofgenetic markers and
understanding mental resilience.
(16:40):
Imagine your body has tiny tagscalled genetic markers.
These tags are like specialcodes that health scientists
understand why some people arebetter at bouncing back from
tough times, while others maynot be right.
And by studying these tags,scientists can learn how your
(17:02):
genes influence our ability tostay strong and positive even
when things get hard.
So, on a scientific level,genetic markers, or specific DNA
sequences, are crucial inunraveling the mysteries of
mental resilience.
These markers act as indicatorsthat scientists use to pinpoint
(17:24):
genetic variations associatedwith an individual's ability to
withstand and recover frommental challenges.
Understanding these markersprovide us insight into complex
genetic factors contributing toresilience.
Resilience, as we said, is howwell you bounce back.
So, as you gave the example ofyour friend and you talked about
(17:46):
her describing her mentalhealth condition or disorder at
that time, it's important tounderstand that your friend is
normal, that we all have thingsthat happen to us that we have
to stop and think about.
How can we cope with thesethings?
Our genes are already going toplay a role in providing us with
(18:07):
how well we can do that, andwhat we want to work on are
activities that help fortifythis resilience.
Sometimes it comes in the formof rest and taking a break.
Sometimes it's in the form ofmedication, sometimes it's in
the form of talking to people,sometimes it's journal writing,
but these are all things that wedo, or figure out how to do, to
(18:30):
foster our resilience.
Tak Williams (18:34):
So when people say I just need to break, I just
need to shut down for a minute,you know, like a mental reset, a
lot of times I'm thinking thatthat's what they're talking
about.
They're addressing whateverthat mental health is.
They're addressing that,they're taking action, they're
doing something that gives thema break, gives them a chance to
(18:57):
reset, to step back, give thebrain a chance to breathe and
then come back at it.
But is it that the resilience,like you say?
How do we deal with a situation, how do we respond to a
situation that may be stressfulfor us or causes distress?
(19:19):
You know it's like how doesthat process where they talk
about?
You know, anxiety, hangingaround too long turns into
stress, these types of things.
So in those early stages ofaddressing your mental health
issues, what coping mechanismsor what strategies or techniques
(19:40):
would you say are available forpeople to seek out?
They may not have it right now,but what tools or resources and
how available might they be?
If we're starting off at alevel of free 99,?
You know, you just don't havethe budget.
You may not have.
It's like having insurance.
(20:01):
A lot of people they're notworking for companies that's
providing health insurance andthey're not getting yearly
checkups and they're just notdoing it.
So, for the average Joe or Joan, what are some suggestions that
you have that they may haveaccess to, where they can get an
idea of some resources andtools they could use to assist
(20:22):
them with mental health issues?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (20:24):
Well, I'm not a mental health provider
and P23 Health is not a directmental health provider either,
but there are resourcesavailable.
I would say talk to someone,normalize how you feel, reach
out to a person that you couldtrust, or Google a number that
you can call.
Talk to your doctor.
There are resources available.
(20:46):
I think that it's important tounderstand that whatever you're
going through is normal.
It's normal for you, it'sacceptable and there's such a
profound connection betweengenetics and mental resilience.
That's where P23 can come inand really help you.
(21:06):
That's where a professionallike myself can help you right,
because our genes, which arelike tiny instructions inside of
us, play a big role in how wehandle challenges.
Think of it as having asuperpower.
Some people are naturally goodat staying strong in tough
situations and scientists noware trying to figure out how our
(21:30):
genes are playing a role inthis heroism that help us build
mental strength and bounce backwhen life is challenging.
Genetics is intricately woveninto the fabric of mental
resilience.
It involves the study of howour genes influence cognitive
(21:51):
processes, emotional responseand coping mechanisms.
The profound connection lies inrecognizing the certain genetic
factors contributivity andindividuals in eight, capacity
for resilience influencing theirability to adapt and thrive
among life's most challenging ofcircumstances.
(22:13):
Now what I can tell you is thatwe are really pushing the
envelope with the latestbreakthroughs in mental health
research.
Right now, scientists are likedetectives investigating how our
minds work.
Recently, we made excitingdiscoveries about how our brain
function and how to help peoplefeel better mentally.
It's like finding new pieces toa puzzle that can help us
(22:36):
understand and support ourmental well-being.
Contemporary mental healthresearch is akin to an unfolding
cycle of breakthroughs anddiscoveries.
You want to talk to somebodythat is in that field, because
it's evolving every day.
It's changing.
It's so normal, it's so likelyfor us to have a mental health
(23:02):
breakdown, a temporary crisis.
Everybody I don't care howstrong you are, even me you have
those moments where you need towork on your resilience or do
things that reaffirm orstrengthen that resilience.
You have to fortify or buildwhere you are.
This, like myself, the curiousone are constantly delving into
(23:29):
the intricate workings of thebrain, employing advanced
technologies and methodologies.
These breakthroughs involveuncovering novel insights into
mental health disorders,treatment options, preventive
measures and propelling theunderstanding of our mind to new
(23:50):
heights.
Recently, there have beenseveral major mental health
breakthroughs.
We're going to talk about a fewof them.
One of them is ketamine, whichis a psychedelic.
It's shown promise for treatingdepression, anxiety and other
mental disorders.
It works to alter brainactivity and connectivity in
(24:13):
ways that may enhance mood andcognition.
Another one is one that P23Health has really led the way in
, and that's pharmacogenetictesting, which can help
personalize antidepressanttreatment by identifying genetic
factors that affect howpatients respond to different
(24:35):
drugs.
This may reduce trial and errorand improve your outcomes.
And then the most mainstream waythat a lot of people are
talking about now is somethingcalled artificial intelligence
or AI.
I had a person once say haveyou heard of AI?
(24:56):
Ai in this instance is notreferring to Allen Iverson.
It's referring to the help thathas contributed to mental
health using artificialintelligence.
So AI is artificialintelligence.
Several ways we use it.
We use data from varioussources to detect, diagnose and
(25:20):
monitor mental health conditionslike depression, schizophrenia,
anxiety.
It's used to develop andpersonalize adaptive
interventions that can tailortreatments to individuals' needs
and preferences.
It enhances the accessibilityand affordability of mental
health services, especially forunderserved populations, by
(25:43):
providing chatbots, apps, onlineplatforms that give us
resources for our mental health.
And then it also helps inadvancing the understanding of
the biological, psychologicaland social factors that
influence mental health andwell-being.
Tak Williams (26:04):
So if one were to seek out some assistance, let's
say, if they work somewhere,typically they may find it with
their employer, but if they'reoutside of the workforce, you
recommend that they just lookfor some organizations or some
free clinics.
(26:24):
Or what would you say to thatperson?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (26:29):
If you have no one that you can talk to
, then I would look for anorganization or a free clinic.
If you have one person that youcan trust and talk to, I would
talk to that person as a firststep.
Depending on your financialsituation, you can see an online
(26:54):
telehealth provider, a licensedmedical provider anywhere from
$10 to $100.
And $100 is more like a monthlymembership or yearly membership
or that kind of thing.
P23 Health has providers, butnot mental health providers.
(27:17):
So if you called us or emailedus, we could help you with
finding resources based on thearea that you live in and the
organizations in that area.
We're really big in giving back, so we have national partners
and regional partners that wedonate our resources, our time,
our money to give back to thesepartners.
(27:41):
So we've establishedconnections.
We have people that we couldpoint you to or that you could
call.
So if you have nobody to calland nobody to talk to and you
can't do an online telehealthvisit, call us.
Your initial consultation isfree and we can help you with
(28:01):
finding resources or programsspecific to your area.
It's too complex to give ageneral recommendation without
me being a mental healthprovider to say exactly.
This is the number that you needto dial or this is the person
that you need to talk to.
But the number one thing I couldsay, just based on good health
(28:23):
and being human, is speak up andsay something.
Give yourself a voice,understand that you are normal,
be confident enough to sharethat with somebody, because all
you have to do is say somethingto one person.
So that would be my advice thatI would give as a mother, as a
(28:46):
friend, as a sister, as adaughter, as a wife, as a
homegirl, to a lot of peoplethat's going to be the message
that I would give, because youkeep pressing me on that
question.
So I want to make sure that I'mjust really, really clear,
because we all look to peoplefor guidance and when we're here
to name Dr Montgomery, we think, okay, she's a superhero, she's
(29:07):
a this, she's a that, she's gotto be a mental health provider
that can help us.
And I wish, I wish, I wish butI promise you I can point you to
the right direction of someresources and people who can.
Tak Williams (29:19):
And that's that's exactly what I wanted to hear.
A lot of people think that theyhave nowhere to turn to.
They, they, they wind up ontheir own island of sorts, and
people are sitting right infront of them and they just
don't see it.
And that's why I know fromfirst hand experience that not
(29:40):
necessarily mental disorders,because I haven't been diagnosed
that I'm aware of of any butdefinitely mental health.
I've experienced it.
I mean just going throughdifferent things in life and I
was fortunate enough to havesomebody close by, somebody I
(30:01):
could speak to and wasn't evenaware of it, but maybe their
empathy, maybe them lending theear, maybe them pointing me in a
direction, I mean that it justhelped out.
It really did.
So I would have totally agreedthat having someone speaking to
someone, saying something, islike a first great step,
(30:24):
especially if you think you haveno one, no where to go, nobody
to call, no resources, no tools.
So I want to say thank you forthat.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (30:37):
You are absolutely welcome.
It was a delight having you ontoday's episode.
The potential impact ofgenetics on developing
strategies for mental healthresilience is phenomenal.
Okay, imagine you have abackpack full of tools and you
(30:57):
want to use these tools to helpyou stay strong and happy.
We, as scientists, want to fillthat backpack with even better
tools based on what we learnabout our genes.
This knowledge can help uscreate smart strategies, like
special exercises for our mindto boost our ability to handle
(31:20):
challenges and stay resilient.
In the simplest of terms, we,as scientists, are like
explorers, learning about themagical codes inside us, those
genetic markers, to understandhow our minds work and find ways
to make them even stronger andhappier.
(31:42):
Genetics has the potential toshape innovative strategies for
enhancing mental resilience.
As we deepen our understandingof genetic basis of resilience,
it opens avenues for developinginterventions that target
specific genetic factors.
(32:02):
This might involveinterventions such as gene
therapies like CRISPR that wetalked about, or a number of
others, pharmacogenomics andpersonalized mental health plans
based on your genetics.
The impact lies in empoweringindividuals with tailored tools
(32:26):
and strategies to bolster orboost their mental resilience,
based on your unique geneticmakeup Essence.
The journey from geneticmarkers to mental resilience
involves a nuanced explorationof molecular foundations of the
(32:49):
mind, offering unprecedentedopportunities for advancement in
mental health research and care.
As we conclude thisthought-provoking episode of
demystifying DNA, decoding minds, unraveling genetics of mental
(33:09):
health, I want to extend myheartfelt gratitude for you
joining us on this captivatingexploration.
Together we've delved into theintricate way genetics influence
our mental well-being and sharelight on groundbreaking
(33:29):
research that paves the way fora better understanding of mental
health.
Toc and I are so grateful foryour company.
Remember, our genes holdvaluable insights into the
complexities of the mind.
I hope today's episode has notonly expanded your knowledge,
(33:53):
but also sparked your curiosityto further explore the
fascinating intersection ofgenetics and mental health.
As the field of genetic researchcontinues to evolve, we myself
P23, will be here every step ofthe way, uncovering new
(34:16):
discoveries and sharing insightsthat empower us to lead
healthier lives.
For more information on yourgenetics and mental health,
visit us at www.
p23health.
com and schedule some time fordiscussion with us.
(34:37):
While we are not mental healthprofessionals, we are able to
provide testing, guidance andresources in this fascinating
field.
Stay curious, stay engaged andjoin us again on demystifying
DNA as we embark on our nextadventure into the captivating
(34:59):
world of genetics.
Remember together we can unlockthe secrets hidden within our
DNA.
Keep exploring, keep learning,and until next time.
P23 Knowledge, access, power.
P23, wellness and Understandingat your Fingertips P23.
And that's no Cap.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (00:21):
Welcome back to Demystifying DNA, the
podcast where we explore thewonders of genetics and their
impact on our lives.
I'm your host, the curious lady, Dr.
Tiffany Montgomery.
Scientists and epidemiologists,I study population health and
(00:42):
infectious disease.
I like to make it very clearwhile I'm not a medical doctor,
I am a scientific researcherthrough and through and I am
thrilled to have you join metoday as we dive deep into the
intricate world of genetics andmental health.
In this episode, decoding Minds, unraveling the Genetics of
(01:09):
Mental Health, will embark on afascinating journey to
understand how our genes shapeour mental well-being.
Joining me today is fellowco-host, mr Tak Williams.
Some of you have met Tak beforeon the previous podcast.
You all really enjoyed ourdialogue, so we had to have Tak
(01:33):
back.
Why?
Because, as I told you, toc isa people expert, father of five,
computer IT extraordinaire,guru, mentor, leader, teacher in
his community, very involved inthe lives of others and shaping
young minds.
(01:54):
Toc is motivational, relatableand an educated person to talk
to and because of his love forpeople we had to have him back
right.
Welcome, Tak.
Tak Williams (02:08):
Hey, welcome everybody.
I want to say thank you firstand foremost to Dr.
Montgomery for having me back.
I'm just as excited as I waswhen I was first invited to your
platform and even more excitedbecause it seems like there were
listeners who had some greatquestions.
(02:31):
I think the dialogue we hadbefore and that's typical of
your platform, your podcast ismore of a dialogue.
It's not like one way youengage the listeners and the
listeners respond.
Just think that that's howgrowth works, especially in a
positive direction.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (02:50):
Well, thank you, Tak.
I appreciate that feedback,especially coming from someone
who has their own phenomenalpodcast.
Tak and I are working throughthis because he's a podcast host
, I'm a host and so he's workingon being a guest, right, so
don't steal my show, Tak, but weare so glad that you joined us.
Tak has his own show, TakWilliams, and he's a great host.
(03:13):
I'm going to talk about thetopic of the next episode of the
Top 50.
Top 50 is not scientific at all, so no competition there.
But I tell you what?
Tak just has a dynamic way oflooking at things and presenting
it.
So, for today, we're going tobe talking about a wide range of
mental health topics as itrelates to the focus of the
topic.
So we're going to be talkingabout the focus of the topic.
(03:35):
So we're going to be talkingabout the focus of the topic.
So let's get started, let'stalk, let's dive in with Tak for
what promises to be anintriguing discussion.
So, toc, Mr.
(03:58):
Tak, welcome back, sir.
Tak Williams (04:02):
Thank you.
I'm curious.
I have a question just rightoff the top.
I feel like a listener at thispoint Mental health, genetics.
From the mental health side,I've been walking around for
years, and probably many othershave also, and we tend to
(04:23):
generalize what things are.
If someone was to ask me do youknow what mental health is?
That first initial question Iwould feel confident that I
could respond.
But the moment I begin to thinkabout what my definition would
be, I just would hit the brakesand I say hold up, you know like
(04:44):
what is that?
And that's because more peopleexperience mental health versus
articulating it, expressing it.
So I would ask you what ismental health?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (04:58):
So, Todd , I'm glad you asked, and it's
crazy because when you come on,our conversations are so organic
.
It's almost like descriptive,and I promise they're not.
But that's a great way.
If I had given somebody aquestion and said this is how I
want you to start my show, thatwould be it, Because we have to
(05:19):
define what it is we're talkingabout.
It's a term we hear thrown fromleft to right.
It's like what is mental health?
Mental health refers to aperson's emotional,
psychological and socialwell-being.
It factors all three of thosethings.
(05:39):
It involves the individual'sability to handle stress, relate
to others and make decisions.
So you've got three thingsgoing into.
Three things cause and effectat the same time, and that's why
it's so complicated.
Mental health is influenced by avariety of factors, and
(05:59):
genetics plays a significantrole in shaping an individual's
susceptibility to certain mentalhealth conditions.
Genetics refers to the study ofgenes and how traits and
characteristics are inheritedfrom one generation to the next.
We reset this definition everytime we do this podcast because,
(06:24):
like I always say, I'm notexpecting anybody heard the
previous one.
We're going to start right heretoday and I don't want you to
feel lost.
This is not a Marvel episodewhere you got to go back and
understand how Captain Americawas conceived to get here.
We're going to help you rightwhere you are.
Many mental health disordershave a genetic component,
(06:45):
meaning that they can run infamilies.
Now, genetics alone doesn'tdetermine why someone will
develop a mental health disorder, but it can contribute to
increase vulnerability.
You know when we talk aboutgenetics and epigenetics and how
these things are expressed, sowe have to be mindful of the
(07:06):
role that genes play.
Tak Williams (07:08):
I would like to say that that's probably why I
think that many of us experienceit instead of articulating it,
because what you said is what Ithink and it's definitely what I
experienced, just being a humanbeing, I've seen, I've
witnessed and I've alsoexperienced over the years times
(07:32):
where, like physical health,you know, I felt good physically
, I felt like I could dowhatever it was that I needed to
to address maybe my weight, toaddress my metabolism, my diet,
and at times that carried overto my mental health, feeling
good, you know, having thatoutwith perspective, feeling
(07:54):
positive, just feeling great.
The energy is there and but Inever really thought about it as
mental health in and of itselfand that's why, you know, your
response to my question reallyhelps to clear that up.
So thanks for that.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (08:12):
Talk.
You know it's my pleasure and Ijust want to understand it and
help you understand therelationship between mental
health and genetics.
It covers at least sixdifferent parts.
You've got your geneticpredisposition, so you've got
the certain genetic factors thatincrease the likelihood of
(08:35):
developing mental healthdisorders, and these genetic
predispositions may involvevariations in a specific gene
related to brain function,neurotransmitter regulation or
even response to stress.
Heritability, which is theextent to which gene factors
contribute to the development orparticular of a particular
(08:57):
trait or condition.
Mental health disorders oftenhave a varying degrees of
heritability, including theinfluence of genetics on their
occurrence.
So mental health is a complexinterplay between genetics and
environmental factors.
What do we call that?
Epigenetics.
(09:18):
While genetics contribute,environmental influence such as
stress, trauma, family dynamicsand life experiences also play a
crucial role in the onset andcourse of mental health
conditions.
They have a polygenic nature.
Many mental health disordersare polygenic.
(09:41):
They involve multiple genes,not one multiple.
The interaction of numerousgenetic variations along with
environmental factors contributeto the complexity of
understanding and predictingmental health outcomes.
Again, flat out epigenetics,because epigenetics factors can
(10:07):
influence gene expressionwithout altering the underlying
DNA sequence.
Environmental factors such asstress or early life experiences
or trauma can modify geneactivity, impacting mental
health outcomes.
And then you've got risk andresilience.
(10:27):
So, just like we talked aboutinfectious diseases playing a
role in how resilient you are,how susceptible you are, we've
got those same factors withmental health.
While some genetic factors mayincrease the risk of mental
health disorders, others maycontribute to the resilience.
(10:47):
Protective genetic factors andcoping mechanisms can play a
role in mitigating the impact ofenvironmental stressors.
Tak Williams (10:59):
I would like to ask what is the difference
between mental health illnessand maybe a mental disorder?
Because I talked to a friend ofmine a couple months ago and
she told me she was taking sometime off from work and I was
kind of asking, like you know,what's going on and she said
(11:22):
that she had to deal with somemental health issues.
Now, later on, she explained tome that she had a mental
disorder, and I really didn'tget into it real deep with her
in terms of why or where was thedemarcation line, like where
did it cross over between itbeing a mental health issue and
(11:46):
now there's a mental disorder?
But from what I gathered fromher, when she was explaining her
mental health issues, this wasmore of her saying what she was
going through, what she realizedand recognized, and it was sort
of like a self-dagnosing ofmaybe her mood or her energy or
(12:07):
her current status on herself,her biofeedback, whatever.
And then when she went toexplain the mental disorder, it
was, like you know, she wasdiagnosed by maybe a
professional or a doctor orwhoever.
And so I guess my question is ismental health a general term
(12:30):
that's used as an umbrella andthen underneath that you'll find
mental disorders, or are theyseparate in and of themselves?
Because it seems like peoplethat I've been around and myself
, when we go to discuss it, wehave conversations, it jumps
over.
You know, five minutes into itwe're talking about the same
(12:53):
subject matter, maybe somethinglike drugs or addiction or
different things like that, andnow we're talking about what
appears to me, or as Iunderstand it, as a mental
disorder, even though theconversation was about mental
health.
So if you could just shed somelight on that, just add a little
color to what the differencesare, or where does it break off
(13:14):
at?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (13:15):
So this answer I'm going to give it to
you two ways.
For our science junkie nerds,it's like talking about
physiology versus pathology, allright.
For our non-science nerds, itis like talking about let's go
(13:40):
to the science nerd part.
Mental health is a term thatcan be overly generalized or
overly abused All right.
So we all have mental health.
So for my non-science people,it's like saying you have an
attitude, all right, everybodyhas an attitude.
(14:02):
Somewhere along in our societythat's become a negative
connotation.
Somebody said you have anattitude, you automatically get
defensive and you want to provewhy you don't have attitude.
But hey, here's the deal.
Good, bad or neutral, we allhave an attitude.
Okay, attitude is somethingthat everybody has.
It's the same with mentalhealth.
(14:24):
Mental health is something thateverybody has.
When it goes wrong or when itdoesn't operate in the way that
we expect or we can understand,it then becomes a mental health
disorder, disease or illness.
Mental health can be a one-timething, like a crisis that
(14:44):
you're having, or it can be along-term thing, which is a
disorder or illness, orsomething that happens over time
.
For my science people,physiology is what we all have.
Everybody has physiology.
Okay, it's universal.
Some of us have diseases.
Some of us have illnesses orailments or something that
(15:05):
doesn't just go the way thetextbook says it's supposed to
go.
Your ear is shaped a littlefunny.
Maybe you have one hand biggerthan the other, or one finger
longer than the other, andthat's supposed to be
symmetrical.
They can be subtle differences,but that becomes a pathology or
something that's not workingright.
So you've got physiology, whicheverybody has, you've got
(15:31):
attitude, which everybody has,and you've got mental health,
which everybody has, and thenyou've got times where these
things don't go the way we thinkthey should.
So mental health and mentalhealth disorders are not the
same.
Mental health refers to youroverall well-being, including
your thoughts, feelings andbehaviors.
Like we said, right, mentalhealth disorders are diagnosable
(15:56):
conditions that affect yourmental functioning and cause
distress and impairment.
Everyone has mental health, butnot everyone has mental health
disorder.
Now you've got to remember yourmental health can change over
time, depending on factors,because of all the factors that
(16:19):
contribute to your mental health.
So it's important to understandthe complexity of what goes
into mental health.
Okay, now, some of the thingsthat I want to make sure we talk
about are the significance ofgenetic markers and
understanding mental resilience.
(16:40):
Imagine your body has tiny tagscalled genetic markers.
These tags are like specialcodes that health scientists
understand why some people arebetter at bouncing back from
tough times, while others maynot be right.
And by studying these tags,scientists can learn how your
(17:02):
genes influence our ability tostay strong and positive even
when things get hard.
So, on a scientific level,genetic markers, or specific DNA
sequences, are crucial inunraveling the mysteries of
mental resilience.
These markers act as indicatorsthat scientists use to pinpoint
(17:24):
genetic variations associatedwith an individual's ability to
withstand and recover frommental challenges.
Understanding these markersprovide us insight into complex
genetic factors contributing toresilience.
Resilience, as we said, is howwell you bounce back.
So, as you gave the example ofyour friend and you talked about
(17:46):
her describing her mentalhealth condition or disorder at
that time, it's important tounderstand that your friend is
normal, that we all have thingsthat happen to us that we have
to stop and think about.
How can we cope with thesethings?
Our genes are already going toplay a role in providing us with
(18:07):
how well we can do that, andwhat we want to work on are
activities that help fortifythis resilience.
Sometimes it comes in the formof rest and taking a break.
Sometimes it's in the form ofmedication, sometimes it's in
the form of talking to people,sometimes it's journal writing,
but these are all things that wedo, or figure out how to do, to
(18:30):
foster our resilience.
Tak Williams (18:34):
So when people say I just need to break, I just
need to shut down for a minute,you know, like a mental reset, a
lot of times I'm thinking thatthat's what they're talking
about.
They're addressing whateverthat mental health is.
They're addressing that,they're taking action, they're
doing something that gives thema break, gives them a chance to
(18:57):
reset, to step back, give thebrain a chance to breathe and
then come back at it.
But is it that the resilience,like you say?
How do we deal with a situation, how do we respond to a
situation that may be stressfulfor us or causes distress?
(19:19):
You know it's like how doesthat process where they talk
about?
You know, anxiety, hangingaround too long turns into
stress, these types of things.
So in those early stages ofaddressing your mental health
issues, what coping mechanismsor what strategies or techniques
(19:40):
would you say are available forpeople to seek out?
They may not have it right now,but what tools or resources and
how available might they be?
If we're starting off at alevel of free 99,?
You know, you just don't havethe budget.
You may not have.
It's like having insurance.
(20:01):
A lot of people they're notworking for companies that's
providing health insurance andthey're not getting yearly
checkups and they're just notdoing it.
So, for the average Joe or Joan, what are some suggestions that
you have that they may haveaccess to, where they can get an
idea of some resources andtools they could use to assist
(20:22):
them with mental health issues?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (20:24):
Well, I'm not a mental health provider
and P23 Health is not a directmental health provider either,
but there are resourcesavailable.
I would say talk to someone,normalize how you feel, reach
out to a person that you couldtrust, or Google a number that
you can call.
Talk to your doctor.
There are resources available.
(20:46):
I think that it's important tounderstand that whatever you're
going through is normal.
It's normal for you, it'sacceptable and there's such a
profound connection betweengenetics and mental resilience.
That's where P23 can come inand really help you.
(21:06):
That's where a professionallike myself can help you right,
because our genes, which arelike tiny instructions inside of
us, play a big role in how wehandle challenges.
Think of it as having asuperpower.
Some people are naturally goodat staying strong in tough
situations and scientists noware trying to figure out how our
(21:30):
genes are playing a role inthis heroism that help us build
mental strength and bounce backwhen life is challenging.
Genetics is intricately woveninto the fabric of mental
resilience.
It involves the study of howour genes influence cognitive
(21:51):
processes, emotional responseand coping mechanisms.
The profound connection lies inrecognizing the certain genetic
factors contributivity andindividuals in eight, capacity
for resilience influencing theirability to adapt and thrive
among life's most challenging ofcircumstances.
(22:13):
Now what I can tell you is thatwe are really pushing the
envelope with the latestbreakthroughs in mental health
research.
Right now, scientists are likedetectives investigating how our
minds work.
Recently, we made excitingdiscoveries about how our brain
function and how to help peoplefeel better mentally.
It's like finding new pieces toa puzzle that can help us
(22:36):
understand and support ourmental well-being.
Contemporary mental healthresearch is akin to an unfolding
cycle of breakthroughs anddiscoveries.
You want to talk to somebodythat is in that field, because
it's evolving every day.
It's changing.
It's so normal, it's so likelyfor us to have a mental health
(23:02):
breakdown, a temporary crisis.
Everybody I don't care howstrong you are, even me you have
those moments where you need towork on your resilience or do
things that reaffirm orstrengthen that resilience.
You have to fortify or buildwhere you are.
This, like myself, the curiousone are constantly delving into
(23:29):
the intricate workings of thebrain, employing advanced
technologies and methodologies.
These breakthroughs involveuncovering novel insights into
mental health disorders,treatment options, preventive
measures and propelling theunderstanding of our mind to new
(23:50):
heights.
Recently, there have beenseveral major mental health
breakthroughs.
We're going to talk about a fewof them.
One of them is ketamine, whichis a psychedelic.
It's shown promise for treatingdepression, anxiety and other
mental disorders.
It works to alter brainactivity and connectivity in
(24:13):
ways that may enhance mood andcognition.
Another one is one that P23Health has really led the way in
, and that's pharmacogenetictesting, which can help
personalize antidepressanttreatment by identifying genetic
factors that affect howpatients respond to different
(24:35):
drugs.
This may reduce trial and errorand improve your outcomes.
And then the most mainstream waythat a lot of people are
talking about now is somethingcalled artificial intelligence
or AI.
I had a person once say haveyou heard of AI?
(24:56):
Ai in this instance is notreferring to Allen Iverson.
It's referring to the help thathas contributed to mental
health using artificialintelligence.
So AI is artificialintelligence.
Several ways we use it.
We use data from varioussources to detect, diagnose and
(25:20):
monitor mental health conditionslike depression, schizophrenia,
anxiety.
It's used to develop andpersonalize adaptive
interventions that can tailortreatments to individuals' needs
and preferences.
It enhances the accessibilityand affordability of mental
health services, especially forunderserved populations, by
(25:43):
providing chatbots, apps, onlineplatforms that give us
resources for our mental health.
And then it also helps inadvancing the understanding of
the biological, psychologicaland social factors that
influence mental health andwell-being.
Tak Williams (26:04):
So if one were to seek out some assistance, let's
say, if they work somewhere,typically they may find it with
their employer, but if they'reoutside of the workforce, you
recommend that they just lookfor some organizations or some
free clinics.
(26:24):
Or what would you say to thatperson?
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (26:29):
If you have no one that you can talk to
, then I would look for anorganization or a free clinic.
If you have one person that youcan trust and talk to, I would
talk to that person as a firststep.
Depending on your financialsituation, you can see an online
(26:54):
telehealth provider, a licensedmedical provider anywhere from
$10 to $100.
And $100 is more like a monthlymembership or yearly membership
or that kind of thing.
P23 Health has providers, butnot mental health providers.
(27:17):
So if you called us or emailedus, we could help you with
finding resources based on thearea that you live in and the
organizations in that area.
We're really big in giving back, so we have national partners
and regional partners that wedonate our resources, our time,
our money to give back to thesepartners.
(27:41):
So we've establishedconnections.
We have people that we couldpoint you to or that you could
call.
So if you have nobody to calland nobody to talk to and you
can't do an online telehealthvisit, call us.
Your initial consultation isfree and we can help you with
(28:01):
finding resources or programsspecific to your area.
It's too complex to give ageneral recommendation without
me being a mental healthprovider to say exactly.
This is the number that you needto dial or this is the person
that you need to talk to.
But the number one thing I couldsay, just based on good health
(28:23):
and being human, is speak up andsay something.
Give yourself a voice,understand that you are normal,
be confident enough to sharethat with somebody, because all
you have to do is say somethingto one person.
So that would be my advice thatI would give as a mother, as a
(28:46):
friend, as a sister, as adaughter, as a wife, as a
homegirl, to a lot of peoplethat's going to be the message
that I would give, because youkeep pressing me on that
question.
So I want to make sure that I'mjust really, really clear,
because we all look to peoplefor guidance and when we're here
to name Dr Montgomery, we think, okay, she's a superhero, she's
(29:07):
a this, she's a that, she's gotto be a mental health provider
that can help us.
And I wish, I wish, I wish butI promise you I can point you to
the right direction of someresources and people who can.
Tak Williams (29:19):
And that's that's exactly what I wanted to hear.
A lot of people think that theyhave nowhere to turn to.
They, they, they wind up ontheir own island of sorts, and
people are sitting right infront of them and they just
don't see it.
And that's why I know fromfirst hand experience that not
(29:40):
necessarily mental disorders,because I haven't been diagnosed
that I'm aware of of any butdefinitely mental health.
I've experienced it.
I mean just going throughdifferent things in life and I
was fortunate enough to havesomebody close by, somebody I
(30:01):
could speak to and wasn't evenaware of it, but maybe their
empathy, maybe them lending theear, maybe them pointing me in a
direction, I mean that it justhelped out.
It really did.
So I would have totally agreedthat having someone speaking to
someone, saying something, islike a first great step,
(30:24):
especially if you think you haveno one, no where to go, nobody
to call, no resources, no tools.
So I want to say thank you forthat.
Dr. Tiffany Montgomery (30:37):
You are absolutely welcome.
It was a delight having you ontoday's episode.
The potential impact ofgenetics on developing
strategies for mental healthresilience is phenomenal.
Okay, imagine you have abackpack full of tools and you
(30:57):
want to use these tools to helpyou stay strong and happy.
We, as scientists, want to fillthat backpack with even better
tools based on what we learnabout our genes.
This knowledge can help uscreate smart strategies, like
special exercises for our mindto boost our ability to handle
(31:20):
challenges and stay resilient.
In the simplest of terms, we,as scientists, are like
explorers, learning about themagical codes inside us, those
genetic markers, to understandhow our minds work and find ways
to make them even stronger andhappier.
(31:42):
Genetics has the potential toshape innovative strategies for
enhancing mental resilience.
As we deepen our understandingof genetic basis of resilience,
it opens avenues for developinginterventions that target
specific genetic factors.
(32:02):
This might involveinterventions such as gene
therapies like CRISPR that wetalked about, or a number of
others, pharmacogenomics andpersonalized mental health plans
based on your genetics.
The impact lies in empoweringindividuals with tailored tools
(32:26):
and strategies to bolster orboost their mental resilience,
based on your unique geneticmakeup Essence.
The journey from geneticmarkers to mental resilience
involves a nuanced explorationof molecular foundations of the
(32:49):
mind, offering unprecedentedopportunities for advancement in
mental health research and care.
As we conclude thisthought-provoking episode of
demystifying DNA, decoding minds, unraveling genetics of mental
(33:09):
health, I want to extend myheartfelt gratitude for you
joining us on this captivatingexploration.
Together we've delved into theintricate way genetics influence
our mental well-being and sharelight on groundbreaking
(33:29):
research that paves the way fora better understanding of mental
health.
Toc and I are so grateful foryour company.
Remember, our genes holdvaluable insights into the
complexities of the mind.
I hope today's episode has notonly expanded your knowledge,
(33:53):
but also sparked your curiosityto further explore the
fascinating intersection ofgenetics and mental health.
As the field of genetic researchcontinues to evolve, we myself
P23, will be here every step ofthe way, uncovering new
(34:16):
discoveries and sharing insightsthat empower us to lead
healthier lives.
For more information on yourgenetics and mental health,
visit us at www.
p23health.
com and schedule some time fordiscussion with us.
(34:37):
While we are not mental healthprofessionals, we are able to
provide testing, guidance andresources in this fascinating
field.
Stay curious, stay engaged andjoin us again on demystifying
DNA as we embark on our nextadventure into the captivating
(34:59):
world of genetics.
Remember together we can unlockthe secrets hidden within our
DNA.
Keep exploring, keep learning,and until next time.
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