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+--- Thread: Research Researchers discover dozens of genes tied to OCD and tic disorders (/thread-21231.html)
Researchers discover dozens of genes tied to OCD and tic disorders - C C - Sep 1, 2026
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1141968
INTRO: A Rutgers-led international collaboration has identified 36 genes that substantially raise the risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and chronic tic disorders – providing what two researchers said is the most detailed biological understanding of how these conditions develop – and how they might eventually be treated.
Before this study, published in Nature Neuroscience, scientists had found a few genetic clues, each linked separately to OCD or chronic tic disorders.
Gary Heiman, a professor in the Department of Genetics in the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences and a senior coauthor of the study, said the research “dramatically expands the catalog of shared risk genes, reveals biological connections with autism and schizophrenia and highlights the brain circuits that govern impulse control, movement, and habit formation.”
OCD is characterized by persistent intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors, while chronic tic disorders, including Tourette syndrome, involve sudden, repeated movements or vocalizations that are difficult to control. Together, the conditions affect millions worldwide, often beginning in childhood, and frequently co-occur within the same individuals and families, according to the National Institutes of Health.
“In the past we knew about a couple of strong genes, so there were few opportunities for the pharmaceutical industry to develop drugs,” said Jay Tischfield, a pioneer in the study of Tourette syndrome and an emeritus Distinguished Professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers, and a senior coauthor of the study. “Now you’ve got over 30 targets, and that opens up new possibilities for treatment development.” (MORE - no ads)