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Researchers have found the genetic key to bipolar disorder
Researchers have identified 36 genes linked to bipolar disorder. This is a key step towards understanding the genetic factors behind bipolar disorder, which could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment in the future.
Published
Imagine constantly alternating between feeling on top of the world and extremely low. Some days, you are full of energy and act impulsively. Other days, you feel deeply depressed, lethargic, and have no energy.
Such abnormal mood swings are common for individuals with bipolar disorder.
The condition is largely genetic. This means that some people are born with a higher risk of developing the disorder later in life.
“Bipolar disorder is one of the most heritable psychiatric disorders. Heritability is estimated to be around 80 per cent, which is very high,” says Kevin O’Connell.
He is a researcher at the University of Oslo's Centre for Precision Psychiatry.
“And yet, most of the underlying genes that increase the risk of the illness remain unknown,” says Professor and Centre leader Ole Andreassen, lead investigator of the study.
The study included 2.9 million people
O’Connell and Andreassen, along with an international research team, conducted the most extensive study on bipolar disorder and genetics to date. It involved over 2.9 million people. The findings were recently published in Nature.
The researchers identified 298 genomic regions associated with bipolar disorder. A genome is the total amount of genetic material in a cell.
Thanks to its size and large participant count, the study identified nearly four times more regions than before.
“267 of the 298 regions we found had not previously been linked to bipolar disorder,” says O’Connell.
The researchers also identified 36 genes that play a key role in the condition's development.
More knowledge leads to better treatment
These findings provide new insights into the biological mechanisms behind the disorder.
"By understanding the genetics behind the illness, we can use this knowledge to benefit patients," says Andreassen.
“This could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options, early interventions, and preventive measures for individuals at risk of developing bipolar disorder,” he says.
Identified specific genetic regions linked to the disorder
But what does it mean to find numerous genomic areas linked to bipolar disorder?
The genome is complete set of an organism's genetic material. DNA is the material that carries the genetic information.
Discovering 298 genomic regions linked to bipolar disorder means that specific parts of our DNA sequence are connected to the condition.
Identifying these regions is key to understanding the genetic factors contributing to the disorder.
We share genetic information with our closest relatives
Within these regions, researchers can find genes that affect the risk and severity of the condition.
In this study, O’Connell and his colleagues identified 36 key genes involved in bipolar disorder.
Although everyone is genetically unique, people share genetic traits with close relatives, which provides clues about how the disorder is passed on in families.
The study also showed that neurons in specific brain regions, like the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, might play significant roles in the development of bipolar disorder.
“More research is needed to understand this biology further,” says O’Connell.
Two main types of bipolar disorder
There are two main types of bipolar disorder:
Type 1 involves alternating between depression and mania.
Type 2 involves episodes of depression and hypomania, which is a milder form of mania.
The study also indicates that there may be differences in genetic risk between bipolar disorder types 1 and 2. There appears to be a spectrum of risk, ranging from milder to more severe forms of the disorder.
“Understanding these genetic differences can help tailor more personalised treatment methods,” says Andreassen.
Could lead to more targeted treatment
There are approximately 160,000 individuals living with bipolar disorder in Norway. Globally, it is estimated that around 40 to 50 million people have bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is linked to many negative outcomes, including suicide. It takes an average of eight years to receive a diagnosis.
“Understanding the biological risk factors can also support clinicians in their decision-making around managing the condition more effectively, offering more targeted treatments. Treatment can be tailored to the individual patient’s genetic profile and expected responses and side effects to treatment,” says Andreassen.
He adds that although the findings may not immediately transform treatment, they present several long-term possibilities.
The study also provides a foundation for further research that could lead to the development of new medications, particularly those targeting the genetic factors associated with bipolar disorder.
Reference:
O’Connell et al. 'Genomics yields biological and phenotypic insights into bipolar disorder', Nature, 2025. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08468-9 (Abstract)
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