Genes linked to OCD and chronic tic disorders reveal new treatments
Researchers have identified 36 genes linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic tic disorders, suggesting these conditions share common biological pathways. This discovery could facilitate the development of new, network-targeted pharmaceutical treatments.
Why it matters
Identifying specific genetic networks provides a new roadmap for drug development, potentially improving outcomes for patients with complex psychiatric conditions.
Many of the newly identified genes are shared between obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic tic disorders.
Listen NEW YORK – Researchers have identified 36 genes that substantially raise the risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic tic disorders, a discovery that could lead to new treatments.
OCD is characterised by persistent intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours, while chronic tic disorders, including Tourette syndrome, involve sudden, repeated movements or vocalisations that are difficult to control.
“In the past, we knew about a couple of strong genes, so there were few opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry to develop drugs,” co-author Jay Tischfield, an emeritus distinguished professor in New Jersey’s Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, said in a statement.
“Now you’ve got over 30 targets, and that opens up new possibilities for treatment development.”
The study, published on Sept 1 in Nature Neuroscience, analysed DNA from nearly 4,000 people diagnosed with these conditions.
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