Relationship between environmental and genetic influences on mental health may be interrelated<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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FRIDAY, Oct. 29, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Genetic risk for a variety of mental health conditions may affect an individual’s choice of residence, according to a study published online Oct. 27 in JAMA Psychiatry<\/em>.<\/p>\n Jessye M. Maxwell, from King’s College London, and colleagues assessed whether individuals with genetic predisposition to a range of psychiatric disorders have an increased likelihood to live in urban areas. The analysis included 385,793 U.K. Biobank participants.<\/p>\n The researchers observed significant associations between polygenic risk score (PRS) and higher population density across adult life (age 25 to >65 years), reaching highest significance at the 45- to 55-year age group for schizophrenia (88 people\/km2<\/sup>), bipolar disorder (44 people\/km2<\/sup>), anorexia nervosa (36 people\/km2<\/sup>), and autism spectrum disorder (35 people\/km2<\/sup>). For schizophrenia, PRS was also significantly associated with higher birthplace population density (37 people\/km2<\/sup>). There was an association between attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder PRS and reduced population density in adult life (\u00e2\u0088\u009231 people\/km2<\/sup> at age 35 to 45 years). <\/p>\n “The results from this study support the hypothesis of genetic selection of an individual’s environment, which intersects the traditional gene-environment dichotomy in the pathogenesis of mental disorders,” the authors write.<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n