Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition that can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life, with symptoms such as intrusive thoughts and changes in mood occurring after exposure to trauma. While approximately 6 percent of individuals who experience trauma go on to develop PTSD, the neurobiology underlying the disorder is not yet fully understood. However, a new genetic study involving more than 1.2 million people has identified 95 genetic loci associated with the risk of developing PTSD, including 80 that had not been previously identified. This study, conducted by the PTSD working group within the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium, is the largest and most diverse of its kind and has also pinpointed 43 genes that appear to play a role in causing PTSD.
The discovery of these genetic underpinnings of PTSD confirms previous research indicating a genetic component to the disorder and provides novel targets for future investigation that could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies. The study’s findings demonstrate a significant increase in loci with larger sample sizes, highlighting the complexity of PTSD genetics. Previous research had shown that PTSD has a genetic component, but the current study provides a more comprehensive understanding by pinpointing specific genetic loci associated with the disorder.
Historically, genetic datasets have primarily focused on individuals of European ancestry, despite the fact that there is a higher burden of trauma and PTSD among people of African, Native American, and Latin American ancestry. The new study, however, includes data from individuals with various ancestries and identifies genetic features of PTSD shared with depression, as well as PTSD-specific loci. The researchers also found that the cerebellum, a brain region responsible for motor control, may play a role in PTSD in addition to previously implicated brain regions like the cortex and amygdala.
Polygenic scores, which calculate a person’s genetic risk of developing a certain condition based on DNA variations, were found to not be easily translatable across populations. This emphasizes the need for continued research with diverse populations to improve the understanding of PTSD genetics and ensure that findings benefit all individuals equally. Moving forward, the research team plans to address this disparity by collaborating with African scientists to expand the depth and diversity of populations included in future studies of PTSD genetics.
Overall, this study represents an important step towards unraveling the genetic architecture of PTSD and identifying potential targets for novel interventions. By shedding light on the genetic factors contributing to the disorder, researchers hope to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies for individuals affected by PTSD. The findings underscore the importance of continued research in diverse populations to address disparities and ensure that all individuals receive the benefits of advances in PTSD genetics research.
