36 Genes Link OCD, Tourette's, and Autism in Large Neurogenetics Study

A large Nature Neuroscience study analyzed exome data from roughly 4,000 individuals with OCD and/or chronic tic disorders (CTD) and found 36 high-impact risk genes, with substantial overlap between OCD and CTD and links to autism and schizophrenia. The researchers mapped these genes to brain circuits, notably the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical loop, showing prenatal and postnatal expression in the cortex, striatum, thalamus, and cerebellum, and suggesting networks of genes rather than single culprits. This expanded set of targets could guide future therapies tailored to neural pathways across neurodevelopmental conditions.