Study Finds Common Root Cause Behind Multiple Psychiatric Disorders

Researchers recently found that eight psychiatric disorders share a common genetic foundation.

A new study has pinpointed specific genetic variants involved, revealing that many remain active longer during brain development. This extended activity suggests they influence multiple developmental stages, making them potential targets for treating multiple conditions.

“The proteins produced by these genes are highly connected to others,” explains University of North Carolina geneticist Hyejung Won. “Changes in these proteins could ripple through the network, leading to widespread effects on the brain.”

In 2019, an international research team identified 109 genes linked, in various combinations, to autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, Tourette syndrome, OCD, and anorexia. This overlap may explain why these disorders often share symptoms or appear together—autism and ADHD, for example, co-occur in up to 70% of cases and frequently run in the same families.

Comparing Unique and Shared Genetic Variants in Brain Development

Won’s team compared unique and shared genetic variants to assess their broader impact. They introduced 18,000 variations into neuron precursor cells to study gene expression during development.

Researchers identified 683 variants affecting gene regulation and analyzed them in mouse neurons. Pleiotropic variants played a larger role in protein interactions, remained active across brain cell types, and influenced multiple developmental stages.

By triggering cascading effects, these variants may explain why the same genes contribute to different conditions. Understanding pleiotropy could lead to treatments targeting shared genetic factors, potentially helping millions with psychiatric disorders.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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