“Multivariate Genomic Analysis of 1.5 Million People Identifies Genes Related to Addiction, Antisocial Behavior, and Health”, 2020-10-16 (; similar):
Behaviors and disorders related to self-regulation, such as substance use, antisocial conduct, and ADHD, are collectively referred to as externalizing and have a shared genetic liability. This comprehensive background lays the groundwork for understanding the interconnectedness of various externalizing conditions and their genetic underpinnings.
We applied a multivariate approach that leverages genetic correlations among externalizing traits for genome-wide association analyses. By pooling data from ~1.5 million people, our approach is statistically more powerful than single-trait analyses and identifies more than 500 genetic loci. This methodology underscores the power of large-scale data and multivariate analysis in identifying the genetic basis of complex traits.
The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in the brain and related to nervous system development. A polygenic score constructed from our results captures variation in a broad range of behavioral and medical outcomes that were not part of our genome-wide analyses, including traits that until now lacked well-performing polygenic scores, such as opioid use disorder, suicide, HIV infections, criminal convictions, and unemployment. These results indicate significant progress in understanding and predicting a range of behaviors and conditions linked to externalizing traits.
Our findings are consistent with the idea that persistent difficulties in self-regulation can be conceptualized as a neurodevelopmental condition. This conclusion suggests a paradigm shift in how these behaviors and disorders are viewed, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and holistic approaches to treatment and prevention.