New Genetic Ties to Anxiety

Researchers from King s College London and QIMR Berghofer conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) on nearly 700,000 people of European ancestry, identifying 74 genetic locations linked to anxiety symptoms, with 39 being novel. Published in Nature Human Behaviour, this research provides the largest number of genetic associations with anxiety to date, offering new insights into the biological continuum of the condition. Key genes like PCLO and SORCS3 were implicated, and the study found that common genetic variation explains about 6% of anxiety symptom severity differences. The research also highlighted significant genetic correlations between anxiety and various mental and physical health conditions, including depression, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, coronary artery disease, endometriosis, and migraine. The study was supported by organizations such as the United States — National Institutes of Health, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom — Medical Research Council, United Kingdom — National Institute for Health and Care Research, and United Kingdom — Medical Research Council.