by Many unknowns, including what causes them, have obsessive -compulsive disorders, why the symptoms between people can differ as much as medication and therapy actually work for it and why treatment is effective for some people and not for others. In our newly published research, my colleagues and I took a step to struggle for some of these secrets by illuminating the genetics of obsessive -compulsive disorder.
Eccurrent disorder is one of the most impaired diseases worldwide. The OCD affects around 1 out of 50 people worldwide and is one of the top -10 causes of years that have been lost through disabilities, which leads to harmful effects on the ability of a person to work and work in the world and on their family.
Compared to people without obsessive disorder, a person with the disease has a 30% higher probability of dying prematurely from natural causes such as infections or other diseases and a 300% higher probability of dying from natural causes such as accidents or suicide at an early stage.
People with obsessive disorders experience obsessions – disturbing, recurring and undesirable thoughts, fears or mental images – and constraints such as repeating behaviors and rituals that were carried out to make fear more than possible by obsessions. For example, someone can wash their hands dozens of times or in a certain way to get rid of germs, even if they know that it is excessive or illogical. It is also common to avoid certain places or situations in order to reduce anxiety or prevent observations and constraints.
While the exact causes of obsessive -compulsive disorders are unclear, the researchers know that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in their development. OCD can run in families; Studies lead to genetic factors between 40% and 65% of OCD cases. OCD, which begins in childhood, has a stronger genetic influence than OCD that begins in adulthood.
But in contrast to some genetic diseases, which are caused by a single faulty gene such as cystic fibrosis or Huntington disease, OCD is influenced by hundreds to thousands of genes, each of which plays a small role in the risk of illness.
My colleagues and I analyzed the DNA of over 53,000 people with OCD and over 2 million people without an obsessive disorder, the largest study of this kind for this condition. We have discovered hundreds of genetic markers that may be associated with obsessive -compulsive disorders – data from which we hope that they ultimately lead to improved opportunities to identify people who are exposed to obsessive -compulsive disorders and better treatments.
How scientists examine OCD genetics
In order to find the genes involved in the OCD risk, researchers use a method called genome-wide association study, or GWAS. These studies compare the DNA of tithing with hundreds of thousands of people with an interest disease with the DNA of people without illness who are looking for tiny differences in genetic material. These genetic markers can be associated with an obsessive -compulsive disorder or indicate the presence of other genes associated with the disease.
In a GWAS, scientists carefully test each of the millions of genetic markers in the entire genome to identify those who are found more often in people with obsessive disorders than in humans without obsessive disorder. You then determine which genes these markers are connected to, where you are active in the body and how you could contribute to this disease.
We identified 30 areas in the genome that are connected to OCD and contained 249 to totally interested genes. Of these, 25 genes were likely to develop OCD.
The three most important genes we have found are also associated with other brain disorders such as depression, epilepsy and schizophrenia. In a region of the genome that plays a role in adaptive immunity and was associated with other psychiatric diseases, several other other genes were found in interest in obsessive -compulsive disorders.
It is important that no single OCD can predict or cause yourself. Earlier genetic studies have shown that genes can contribute to the OCD risk in all 23 couples of chromosomes.
Genetic insights into the obsessive disorder
Since the contribution of every genetic marker or gene for susceptibility to illness is very low, GWAs are not useful to identify genes that cause an OCD for a specific person. This type of research helps scientists to understand how the brain works in people with OCD, and whether OCD shares genetic roots with conditions that usually occur next to it.
For example, the genetic markers, which we were related to OCD, were in several brain regions that are known to play a role in developing the disease. These brain areas are jointly involved in planning, decision -making, motivation, error recognition, emotion regulation as well as fear and fear that can all fell in obsessive -compulsive disorders.
We also found associations with a brain region called hypothalamus and converts emotions such as fear, anger, fear or excitement into physical reactions. The hypothalamus has not yet been associated with OCD, but is part of a network of brain regions that can contribute to its symptoms.
In addition, we found that certain types of brain cells – in particular medium -dusted neurons in a brain region, which was referred to as a striatum – were strongly connected to the OCD genes we identified. Medium spiky neurons play an important role in habit, the process through which behavior becomes automatically and habitual – think constraints. Specific receptors for medium -sized neurons are common goals for medication that are sometimes used to treat OCD.
The results of our study can help researchers better understand relationships between OCD and other conditions. We found genetic connections between OCD and several other psychiatric disorders, in particular anxiety, depression, anorexia and tourette syndrome. People with obsessive -compulsive disorders also showed a low genetic risk of diseases such as alcohol addiction and risk behavior that see themselves at those in clinics: Many people with obsessive -compulsive disorders tend to be careful and avoid risks.
Surprisingly, we also found genetic overlaps between the immune-related OCD conditions. While the OCD seems to be associated with an increased risk of asthma and migraines, it can also be associated with a reduced risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. These results can lead to new findings in the role of the immune system and the inflammation in the health of the brain.
More effective OCD treatment
OCD is a complex disorder that can look very different from person to person. Understanding the genetic and biological factors behind OCD helps the researchers to bring themselves closer to better diagnosis, treatment and possibly even prevention.
As a practicing psychiatrist and researcher, I spent my career to understand the causes of OCD and to improve the lives of those who live with the illness. With larger studies and continued research, my team and I hope to better meet specific biological patterns with individual symptoms.
Over time, this could lead to more personalized and effective treatments – which improves the life of millions of people who live with obsessive -compulsive disorders around the world.
This article will be released from the conversation, a non -profit, independent news organization that brings you facts and trustworthy analyzes to help you understand our complex world. It was written by: Carol Mathews, University of Florida
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Carol Mathews receives funds from the National Institutes of Health. She is a member of the scientific advisory board for the Family Foundation for OCD Research and the International OCD Foundation and acts as a consultant for the Office for Mental Health for the State of New York.
