An international research team has examined the genomes of over 150,000 people with bipolar disorder
24 January 2025
Genetic factors play a major role in the development of bipolar disorders. In an effort to better understand the underlying biology, researchers are repeatedly examining the genomes of people with bipolar disorder. The Psychiatric Genomics Consortium's genome-wide association study (GWAS) is the largest of its kind. The international study analyses data from individuals of European, East Asian, African American, and Latin American descent. Professor Andreas Forstner from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine at Forschungszentrum Jülich played a central role in the project. The latest results have now been published in the renowned journal Nature.
Either manic episodes with lots of energy or the complete opposite: depression and a lack of drive - this is how the days of people with bipolar disorder can look. An estimated 40 to 50 million people worldwide are affected. The disease is associated with a number of negative consequences and risks, including an increased risk of suicide. The causes of bipolar disorder are complex and the biology on which it is based is still largely unknown. However, it is clear that a central risk factor for bipolar disorder is a genetic predisposition. Small variants in a large number of genes are responsible for this predisposition.
"The more we know about the biology behind the disease and the risk factors, the greater the chance of improved diagnosis and treatment options through precision medicine," says Professor Andreas Forstner. The physician and scientist works at both Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Institute of Human Genetics at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB). He is also a member of the Transdisciplinary Research Area (TRA) "Life and Health" at the University of Bonn and was involved in the international study as a shared last author in a central role.
In the study, the genes of more than 2.9 million participants, including over 150,000 people with bipolar disorder, were compared. The idea behind this is that many people with bipolar disorder have the same genetic variants that contribute to the disease.
New genes identified
In total, the study identified 298 genomic regions in which genetic variants increase the risk of bipolar disorder - 267 of which were newly discovered in the current version of the GWAS. The study also identified a new region associated with increased risk of bipolar disorder specifically in the samples of East Asian descent. In the identified regions, 36 specific genes are suspected of being relevant to bipolar disorder. The next steps in research could be to examine these genes more closely. They could also be used to explore new targets for medication for bipolar disorder.
"In the study, we also found genetic differences between different clinical forms of bipolar disorder. This may be important for research into new diagnostic and treatment approaches," says Professor Markus Nöthen, Director of the Institute of Human Genetics at the UKB.
"Our results also suggest that different types of nerve cells in the brain play a role in bipolar disorder and possibly also certain cells outside the brain. Further research can be done here," Friederike David adds. David is a doctoral student at the University of Bonn at the Institute of Human Genetics at the UKB.
Participating institutions and funding
The study was conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), an international consortium of researchers investigating the genetics of mental illness. The PGC includes over 800 researchers from over 150 institutions in over 40 countries. In the German-speaking area, the Central Institute of Mental Health in Mannheim, the University Hospital of Munich, the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the University Hospital Marburg, the Clinic for Mental Health of the University Hospital Münster and the University Hospital Basel were involved, in addition to Forschungszentrum Jülich, the UKB and the University of Bonn.
The study was also funded by the US National Institute of Mental Health.
Further Information
Contact Person
Prof. Dr. Andreas Forstner
Team Leader "Brain Genomics"
- Institute of Neurosciences and Medicine (INM)
- Strukturelle und funktionelle Organisation des Gehirns (INM-1)
