Two Dead in Tragic Shooting Involving Police Officer's Son

A recent study published in Cell reveals that eight psychiatric conditions share a genetic basis, potentially enlightening treatment strategies for these disorders. Researchers from the University of North Carolina, led by geneticist Hyejung Won, identified several genetic variants that not only show commonalities across conditions but are also active during crucial stages of brain development. The disorders examined include autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
In 2019, a global research team found 109 genes linked to these psychiatric disorders, which often manifest similar symptoms, as seen with the correlation between autism and ADHD. Approximately 70% of individuals diagnosed with one of these conditions may also exhibit traits of another.
Notably, the latest study tested nearly 18,000 variations and pinpointed 683 variants affecting gene expression in neurons. Researchers emphasized that understanding these shared genetic factors could lead to unified therapeutic approaches, potentially benefiting the one in eight people worldwide living with psychiatric conditions, according to World Health Organization estimates.