Shared Genetic Basis Found Among Eight Psychiatric Disorders
A groundbreaking study has revealed that eight different psychiatric conditions have a common genetic foundation. This discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding and treating these complex disorders.
Published this year, the research identified specific genetic variants shared among these disorders and shed light on how they function during brain development. Scientists from the United States uncovered that many of these variants remain active for extended periods, potentially influencing multiple stages of development. This finding could lead to the development of targeted treatments that address several disorders simultaneously.
University of North Carolina geneticist Hyejung Won explains, “The proteins produced by these genes are highly interconnected with other proteins. Changes to these proteins could have widespread effects on the brain, impacting various developmental processes.”
Identifying Shared Genetic Links
In 2019, an international team of researchers identified 109 genes that are linked in different combinations with eight psychiatric disorders, including autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and anorexia. This shared genetic basis may explain why these conditions often co-occur and cluster in families.
While each disorder also has unique gene differences, the study focused on comparing the shared genes with those unique to each condition. By analyzing nearly 18,000 variations of these genes in precursor cells that develop into neurons, researchers pinpointed 683 genetic variants that impact gene regulation.
Pleiotropic Variants and Brain Development
Genetic variants that influence multiple seemingly unrelated traits or conditions are known as pleiotropic. The study found that pleiotropic variants were involved in more protein-to-protein interactions and were active across various types of brain cells compared to gene variants unique to specific disorders.
These pleiotropic variants also played a role in regulatory mechanisms that affect different stages of brain development. Understanding how these genes impact gene regulation and networks of processes could provide insights into why the same variants contribute to various psychiatric disorders.
Won emphasizes, “If we can understand the genetic basis of pleiotropy, it might enable us to develop treatments targeting these shared factors, potentially offering a common therapy for multiple psychiatric disorders.”
Implications for Treatment
With approximately 1 in 8 people globally living with a psychiatric condition, the findings of this study have significant implications for treatment and management. By uncovering shared genetic factors among these disorders, researchers aim to develop more effective and targeted therapies that address the underlying genetic causes.
This research, published in the journal Cell, represents a major step forward in understanding the genetic basis of psychiatric disorders and holds promise for future treatment strategies.
This article was originally published in February 2025 and has been updated for clarity and relevance.
