Methylation is one of the most foundational processes in human biology, shaping how the brain develops, how neurotransmitters are formed, how the immune system matures, and how the body adapts to stress. When key genes in this pathway - including MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, SHMT1, BHMT, COMT, MAOA, MAOB and others - are working suboptimally, the effects can influence a child’s (or adult’s) emotional regulation, attention, sensory processing, behaviour, cognition, resilience and overall neurological development. This is why methylation issues are increasingly recognised as contributing factors - not causes - in autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD tendencies, mood instability and other neurodevelopmental or neuropsychiatric patterns.

Through Lifecode Gx testing, I assess the full methylation network: how folate is activated, how B12 is recycled, how SAMe is produced, and how efficiently the body methylates neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, adrenaline and noradrenaline. Variants such as MTHFR C677T or A1298C, MTR/MTRR slow recycling of B12, and SHMT1 or BHMT imbalances can disrupt this flow. When combined with COMT, MAOA or MAOB variants, the system may struggle to process stress, regulate mood, shift between tasks, calm after overwhelm or maintain attention. These patterns are common in autism and ADHD, where the nervous system is already more sensitive, reactive or metabolically demanding.

Methylation also plays a key role in immune development. Genes such as MTHFR, FUT2, IL6, TNF and IFNG influence how the gut microbiome forms, how the mucosal immune system learns tolerance, and how the body modulates inflammation. When this system is compromised, children and adults may be more prone to allergies, eczema, asthma, autoimmunity, chronic infections, behavioural regressions following illness, gut disturbances, or neuroinflammation - all of which can exacerbate autistic traits, ADHD symptoms, anxiety, tics, OCD, sensory issues or emotional dysregulation.

Crucially, methylation affects detoxification. Impaired CYP450 activity, GST and GPX variants, and reduced glutathione capacity can make individuals more sensitive to environmental toxins, medications, stress, and inflammatory triggers. For some neurodivergent children and adults, this means that seemingly small exposures - a medication, a dietary trigger, a period of stress - produce disproportionate neurological or behavioural reactions. Supporting detoxification and restoring biochemical balance can significantly improve stability, mood, and cognitive function.

Functional testing helps reveal how these pathways are operating in real time: homocysteine levels, organic acids showing neurotransmitter precursors or mitochondrial strain, gut dysbiosis, candida or clostridia overgrowth, high histamine, nutrient deficiencies, poor folate/B12 utilisation, oxidative stress, or signs of neuroinflammation. Instead of treating each of these as separate issues, I weave them into a holistic, root-cause understanding of the person’s neurodevelopmental and emotional landscape.

But biology is only part of the story. Neurodivergence is deeply shaped by sensory processing, environment, attachment history, trauma, autonomy, learning style, communication differences and the emotional meaning-making within the family system. My role is to integrate all of these layers - genetics, biochemistry, nervous system regulation, relational patterns, trauma-informed understanding, functional testing, nutritional and homeopathic support - into a coherent path forward.

By working at the root cause, I help individuals and families understand why certain behaviours or sensitivities exist, why the system becomes overwhelmed, and what is needed to support a child or adult to thrive. This approach brings together the science of methylation with the lived experience of autism, ADHD and mental health challenges, creating a compassionate and biologically-informed framework for long-term healing and resilience.