A new study has identified common genetic contributors to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and schizophrenia. The team used genome-wide association study data gathered from over 100,000 individuals and showed that these diseases have a shared polygenic risk, with an estimated genetic correlation of 14.3%, implying that ALS and schizophrenia share some biological processes. In addition, the team found five new ALS-associated genetic loci, which could provide new clues to the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS.
References
McLaughlin, R. L. et al. Genetic correlation between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and schizophrenia. Nat. Commun. 8, 14774 (2017)
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Ridler, C. ALS and schizophrenia share genetic risk factors. Nat Rev Neurol 13, 258 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.50
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2017.50
