COMING SOON! The new and improved DNA Mind test launches on 17 November 2026. Please be aware that when you purchase this product, you will get access to the new online training course and test processing from 17 November 2026.
Online course summary
The DNA Mind online course introduces you to the concept of genetic testing and its value in a mental health practice. It covers the basics of genetics and nutrigenetics, and provides explanations of the key biochemical pathways and related genes that impact 9 domains of mental health including cognitive decline and dementia, depression and anxiety disorders, as well as addictive behaviour. The course is composed of webinars, reading material, a case study and quizzes in the form of multiple choice questions to test your knowledge. Approximately 10 hours of self-study, plus multiple choice questions.
What is the test?
The key biological pathway imbalances, together with environmental exposures, influence outcomes across 9 mental health domains. To help practitioners prioritise key areas and target treatment strategies effectively, test results are organised into these domains:
Addiction and Reward | Cognitive Decline and Dementia | Executive Functioning and Personality Characteristics | Mood and Anxiety | Neurodevelopment and Behaviour | Narcotics and Adverse Psychiatric Outcomes | Sleep and Circadian Rhythms | Stress, Trauma and Resilience | Traumatic Brain Injury: Response and Recovery
Clinical Utility
Mental wellbeing and resilience rely on a balanced nervous system, shaped by a dynamic interplay of genetic and environmental factors. The human brain is a complex system in which mood, cognition, behaviour and the stress response are governed by finely tuned biological pathways – including neurotransmitter systems, neuroinflammatory signalling, methylation, the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neuroplasticity. Environmental exposures – from early-life adversity, chronic stress and trauma, toxin exposure, poor diet and lifestyle habits, and (lack of) social support – together with an individual’s underlying genetic makeup, shape how these pathways function.
When the balance in these biological pathways is disrupted, as a result of environmental insults acting in concert with genetic variants, it can contribute to the development and progression of a wide range of mental and emotional health conditions, from depression and anxiety to attention difficulties, addiction, and age-related cognitive decline.
DNA Mind tests and reports on 120+ genetic variations associated with changes in key biological pathways known to predispose individuals to mental health and neurological imbalances. Weaknesses in these pathways, together with environmental factors, can increase risk for conditions affecting mood, cognition and resilience – an interaction that research consistently shows is often modifiable.
DNA Mind is designed to identify human genetic variation that predisposes individuals to alterations in key biological pathways, including:
Neuroinflammation and immune signalling in the brain | Neurotransmitter production, metabolism and receptor function | Methylation and epigenetic regulation of brain gene expression | Stress hormone response and HPA axis regulation | Neuroplasticity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activity | Circadian rhythm and melatonin synthesis | Lipid metabolism and brain membrane composition | Kynurenine pathway and tryptophan utilisation | Amyloid processing and cognitive resilience
Educator:
Helen Gautschi, MSc RD