58 genetic variants are linked to anxiety risk: study
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Researchers have identified 58 genetic variants associated with an increased risk of anxiety, suggesting that the condition is influenced by multiple genes rather than a single genetic cause, according to a study published in Nature Genetics.
The research, led by scientists from Texas A&M University in the United States, found that anxiety disorders are shaped by genetic variants spread across the human genome. Each variant contributes subtly to a person’s overall genetic risk, a pattern similar to that seen in conditions such as hypertension and clinical depression.
The study analysed genetic data from 122,341 people diagnosed with major anxiety disorders and 729,881 individuals without such diagnoses. The researchers identified 58 independent genome-wide significant risk variants pointing to 66 genes that appear to influence how the brain responds to stress and perceived threats.
The findings also showed a strong genetic overlap between anxiety disorders and related traits, including depression, neuroticism, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicide attempts. The researchers said this reinforces long-standing clinical observations about the close relationship between these conditions.
Senior author Jack Hettema, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Texas A&M University, said anxiety disorders have long been recognised as heritable, but that specific genetic links were previously unclear.
The analysis highlighted genes involved in regulating gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, a brain chemical that helps calm nervous system activity. GABA is already targeted by several existing anti-anxiety medications.
The researchers stressed that genetics alone does not determine outcomes. Co-author Brad Verhulst said the findings could help identify individuals who are particularly vulnerable and support the development of early interventions and more personalised treatments in the future.
