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Mental illnesses have something in common genetic influenceIn short, new research has found that parts of our DNA may be at the root of multiple mental conditions.
The study, led by researchers at Texas A&M University and published in the journal Nature, may explain why many mental health conditions occur together, according to a press release.
Researchers looked at DNA data from more than 1 million people who had experienced one of the 14 childhood and adult-onset cases. mental disorderThey then compared that with data from 5 million individuals without any disabilities.
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Disorders were categorized into five groups: obsessive-compulsive disorders (e.g., OCD and anorexia), schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, and neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g.). autism and ADHD), internalizing disorders (depression, anxiety, PTSD), and substance use disorders.
New research suggests that many mental health conditions share the same genetic roots, rather than acting as isolated disorders. (St. Petersburg)
Each pattern is associated with 238 small differences that affect how the brain works, providing clues about why some conditions overlap and others differ. Some characteristics, such as suicidal ideation and loneliness, were associated with all five patterns.
for schizophrenia bipolar disorder groupthe strongest genetic connections were found in brain cells that send the “go” signal and enable communication between different regions.
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In contrast, internalizing disorders (such as depression) anxiety and PTSD) are more strongly linked to cells that transmit brain signals faster, the researchers found.
“By uncovering our common genetic roots, we can begin to: consider treatment methods “We target multiple diseases rather than treating each disease individually,” co-author John Hettema, MD, said in a release.
Disorders were categorized into five groups: obsessive-compulsive disorders (such as OCD and anorexia), schizophrenia and bipolar disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism and ADHD), internalizing disorders (such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD), and substance use disorders. (St. Petersburg)
The research team relied on genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which compare the DNA of large populations with and without specific conditions. These studies scan millions of common genetic markers to find small differences that are common in people with this disorder.
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The researchers then compared each disease to the others to see how much genetic risk overlap. They did this using a technique called genetic correlation, which reveals whether the same genetic variation is responsible. multiple conditions.
“Additional layers of insight”
Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist, brain imager, and founder of the Amen Clinic in California, said the study’s biggest takeaway was that current methods of diagnosing mental illness are “broken because they’re not based in biology.”
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“This new study confirms that mental health disorders share a deep genetic relationship. brain development and synaptic function,” Amen, who was not involved in the study, told FOX News Digital.
“What this means is that conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and ADHD are not isolated silos, but are part of overlapping biological systems that often begin in the brain, often in the womb.”
While genetics “set the stage” for risk, environmental factors such as stress can actually trigger the onset of symptoms, experts say. (St. Petersburg)
Amen stressed that mental illness should be seen as a brain health problem, rather than a collection of psychological symptoms.
“What this study adds is a new layer of biological insight, especially for those at risk,” he said. “eventually, childhood weaknessEarly intervention is possible before symptoms become severe. ”
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Potential limitations
The researchers emphasized that genetics alone cannot determine whether someone will develop these diseases, just as genetics alone does not determine medical conditions. like high blood pressure And diabetes.
Rather, the authors say genetic traits “set the stage” by increasing or decreasing a person’s unique risk, which can then be triggered by other factors. like stress.
“Just because a gene is associated with a disease doesn’t mean it causes it.”
Amen agreed that “association is not causation” and that “we are not yet at the point where doctors can prescribe based solely on genetic profiles.”
“Just because a gene is associated with a disease doesn’t mean it causes it, nor does changing the gene change the outcome,” he said. “Environment still matters. Genetics influences guns, but stress, trauma, diet, infections, toxins, head injury Please pull the trigger. ”
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Brain experts also emphasized the importance of combining genetic screening with brain imaging.
“If we get this right and combine genetic research with brain imaging, digital phenotyping, and clinical neuroscience, we can open up a whole world of prospects. mental health care “We will no longer make diagnoses based on symptoms alone,” he predicted. Diagnosis is based on objective biological data. ”
