Largest-Ever Study of Suicide Genetics Gives Clues to Who's at Risk

In a groundbreaking study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry on October 1, researchers have identified 12 gene variants that may be linked to an increased risk of suicide attempts. Led by Anna Docherty, an associate professor of psychiatry at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute (HMHI) at the University of Utah, the research sheds light on the intricate connection between genetics, mental health, and various physical ailments.

Contrary to expectations, the study revealed that it isn't a single gene but the cumulative impact of different genes that contributes to the risk of suicide attempts. Drawing data from 22 diverse populations, including people of various ethnic backgrounds, the research team conducted a meta-analysis involving the Million Veteran Program and the International Suicide Genetics Consortium. This comprehensive approach included data from nearly 44,000 documented suicide attempts and over 915,000 ancestry-matched individuals serving as a control group.

The findings uncovered a complex web of genetic variants associated with suicide attempts. The team then compared this data with genetic information on more than 1,000 other health issues. Remarkably, the study demonstrated significant overlap not only with mental health conditions but also with various physical health problems such as chronic pain, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), lung conditions, heart disease, smoking, and lung-related illnesses.

This study showing that causes of suicide can be studied through genes that we are born with is very good and helpful information that can help treat people who are suicidal. Many times people who are suicidal are not able to express how they feel and it makes it much harder for people trying to help. With this study it can make it easier to see what genes are effecting people into having them be suicidal.

Links:

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-10-04/largest-ever-study-of-suicide-genetics-gives-clues-to-whos-at-risk

https://newsadvance.com/life-entertainment/nation-world/wellness/largest-ever-study-of-suicide-genetics-gives-clues-to-whos-at-risk/article_a4c6d418-fc51-52cf-a24e-55643f1489dc.html?mode=comments

Largest Ever Study of Suicide Genetics Gives Clues to Who's at Risk

 Largest Ever Study of Genetics Gives Clues to Who's at Risk 

    New research has discovered that 12 genes can be linked to an increased risk of attempting suicide. People from 22 different populations, also ethnically diverse, were studied for this research. The data also included about 44,000 documented suicide attempts as well as more than 915,000 ancestors of these people who served as the control group. What they found was that not only one gene influences risk, but multiple of them at once. "If we can use genetic information to characterize the health risks of those who attempt suicide, we can better identify those patients who need contact with the mental healthcare system." Anna Docherty, study author states.  

    I believe that this study can save a lot of lives. I do understand that there are environmental, work-related, school-related, and other factors that contribute to depression which can lead to attempting suicide, but I never thought about how genetics plays a role in this. I think it would be good if doctors could target these people because of genetic testing because they could then get these people the help that they need before they get to their breaking point. I think it would be good because they can catch this before the person is even in that state and they can just go to preventative therapy. I think this can be used in many ways depending on the person and how exactly they are feeling. 

LINKS: 

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-10-04/largest-ever-study-of-suicide-genetics-gives-clues-to-whos-at-risk

https://newsadvance.com/life-entertainment/nation-world/wellness/largest-ever-study-of-suicide-genetics-gives-clues-to-whos-at-risk/article_a4c6d418-fc51-52cf-a24e-55643f1489dc.html?mode=comments

Understanding Genetic Factors that Leave People at Risk for Suicide

 Trigger Warning/Content Warning

This article discusses heavy topics like suicide. This may be a sensitive topic to some readers so please continue reading at your own risk. If you (or someone you know) are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention 24-hour Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741, or visit their website at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. 

Suicide is an unfortunate epidemic that accounts for about 800,000 deaths per year. Non-fatal suicide attempts occur more than 20 times for every death by suicide. Since suicidal thoughts and behaviors can be lessened with mental health support and treatment, it is imperative that we understand the biological pathways involved so we can provide better treatment and prevention strategies. In a worldwide genome-association study, scientists scanned more than 7.5 million common variations in the DNA sequence of 550,000 people. Of that group, roughly 30,000 of them had made a suicide attempt. They discovered a region on chromosome 7 with DNA variations that increased the risk a person might attempt it.

The risk location had a strong overlap in the genetic basis for suicide attempt and psychiatric disorders like major depression. There were some overlap in the genetics associated with smoking, pain, risk-taking, sleep disturbances, and overall poorer general health. The overlap with these non-psychiatric risk factors turned out to be unchanged when adjusted for psychiatric disorders; meaning that suicide attempt is not a result of non-psychiatric disorders, but that the biology between the two factors are shared. This study lays the foundation for future research in identifying genetic risk factors in other area of the human genome. Understanding the biological pathways involved in suicide means that better treatment and prevention strategies can save others from this tragedy.

https://health.ucsd.edu/news/releases/Pages/2019-01-14-large-study-identifies-genetic-variants-linked-to-risk-tolerance-risky-behaviors.aspx

New Research Strengthens Relationship Between Genetics and Suicide

 

Scientists at the University of Utah Health are working on a study called the Utah Suicide Genetic Risk Study (USGRS) in order to further understand suicidal behavior in order to prevent more. For this study, they worked with the Medical Examiner's Office to get DNA from over eight thousand suicide victims and with the Utah Population Database to get medical, demographic, and genealogical data. They have found a few things so far. One is that they have identified five rare genetic variants that can help them identify genes associated with suicide. Rare variants can change proteins and genes and how they both function, which can influence the likelihood of a person committing suicide. Along with variants, they also found a pair of variants for a gene that also increase the likelihood. Neurexin-1 (NRXN1) regulates synapse activity in the brain. Variants for this can elevate the risk of suicide. They have also discovered that among those who suffer from bipolar disorder, those with prior trauma and with a genetic disposition for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are at a greater risk of suicide. They found that these individuals are ten to thirty times more likely to commit. While researchers are still gathering this information, they do have to note that while a person may have these variants and genetic history, it does not mean that they will commit suicide, just that their risk is elevated.

 

 https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/newsroom/news/2021/07/7-suicide-genetics.php

 https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2020/08/31/suicide-family-genetic-risk/

Seasons Have an Effect on Your Mood

 

Lihua Sun, a student from China who moved to Finland for graduate studies, noticed a trend in Finland. He began to see that at different points of time, people became moody. His hypothesis was that it had to do with the change of seasons. For his graduate studies in Finland, Sun noticed a change in his moods after his 14 years living there. His study was to take brain scans of mu-opioid of healthy volunteers to see how much of the chemical was visible in the scan. He noticed that the mu-opioid was more visible during the hours of sunlight. In contrast, the mu-opioid was least abundant during hours of no sunlight.

What you can conclude from this is that the spikes in mu-opioid cause changes in mood. Sun noted that studies have shown that suicides have peaked during hours of long sunlight and long darkness. This shows that mu-opioid needs to be exposed to humans in moderation. The paradigm of prolonged darkness causes depression can now be stated as false, since depression can be noticed from prolonged sunlight as well. We must be careful about our moods during the Summer and winter, due to the long lasting sun and moon.

A Key Brain Chemical Fluctuates With The Seasons, New Study Finds (forbes.com)

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Is Genetics Linked to Suicide?

Stated in an article on Genetic Literacy Project’s website, many studies point out the connection between your genome and suicide and mental illness. This article mentions how suicide is a complex illness, and there are many factors to it.  The researches in the past study showed that certain DNA markers are involved and are seen in people who have already died by suicide.

In this newest and largest study, it addresses those different markers like knowing someone who already died from suicide and non-positive life events can also be a factor to why someone would commit suicide. Being that genetic variations impacts your personality and your traits, it also includes other factors like being lonely (social), poverty, and the use of drugs and alcohol. These factors have an important part of suicidal behavior.

Running test, like done in this study, could help to identify a few of these factors and genetic variation and help prevent suicide. The article also brought into light that genetics and biology about suicidal behavior could help understand mental illness even more. I think if running your genome sequence could help prevent more suicides, then I think you should. Knowing a little information is better than not knowing anything at all.

Scientists May Have Just Connected Suicide Risk to Genetics

A new research study suggests that four different genetic variants may increase the risk of suicide, disregarding environmental factors. The World Health Organization suggests that 800,000 people die from suicide each year and is the second leading cause of death among people ages 15-29. There are many environmental factors that can increase risk of death due to suicide, but it seems that genetics could play a major role. In fact, older suicide research suggests that heritability of suicide could be up to 50%.

The article in Molecular Psychiatry used genomic techniques to identify genetic factors that may affect the risk of cancer. Scientists looked at 43 families that were at a higher risk for suicide, and by doing this they reduced the affect of environmental factors on individuals. Analysis of 1,300 DNA samples from people that died by suicide suggests that specific variants in SP110, AGBL2, SUCLA2 and APH1B could be responsible for raising suicide risk. The team also identified 207 genes that could influence suicide risk.

Suicide Statistics in the United States

I find this research article particularly interesting because suicide is not usually looked at in this light. Typically, suicide is seen as mainly a mental health issue not a genetic health issue. Although it do agree with how his study was performed, I do see other limitations to the study. The article highlights that the study was only conducted in one area of Utah, where the residents were mainly of Northern European descent. I think that further research needs to be done in other areas of the world and with other ethnicities to see if these same conclusions apply. This research is a step into understanding individuals that we think are “troubled” and perhaps with some genetic counseling, they can improve the health of these individuals.

Suicide: Study finds 4 genes that may raise risk

     Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among individual of all ages in the United States. It is the second leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 15 and 19. While there is an environmental factor in suicide, a professor was asked to study genetic factors in suicide by affected families. Dr. Douglas Gray, a professor of psychiatry at University of Utah has associated suicide with four genetic variants. Dr. Gray based his study off of 43 families and he reduced environmental factors such as stress, unemployment, and loss of a loved one by choosing a genetically homogenous group. Over 1300 DNA samples were analyzed from people who died by suicide in Utah. The DNA samples were compared to  medical records and genealogical data of over 8 million people. Dr.Gray found the SP110, AGBL2, SUCLA2, and APH1B gene variations to be associated with suicide deaths and 207 genes influencing suicide risk.
    While Dr. Gray's work has provided a framework to research gene variations responsible for suicide, the study is limited by the small sample size. The data from a 43 family study will be slightly skewed. Dr. Gray also mentioned that a limitation in his study was that most cases of suicide were from North European Ancestry and it limits the results provided. Mental health history and environmental factors of each individual can change the genetic risk for suicide. I believe this is an important area of research because in our generation, a lot of individuals are suffering from mental health illnesses and they commit suicide. If gene variations can help identify a genetic factor of suicide, it can alter the treatment plans for individuals to be treated effectively

Suicide: Study finds 4 genes that may raise risk

New research discovers four genetic variations that may raise the danger of passing on by suicide, paying little mind to ecological elements. The examination likewise recognizes several different qualities that require further investigation and that may likewise raise the probability that a man kicks the bucket by suicide.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 800,000 individuals bite the dust by suicide consistently.

In the United States, nearly 45,000 individuals bite the dust because of suicide consistently, making suicide the tenth driving reason for death among people everything being equal.

Men who are white and moderately aged, in any case, are at the most elevated danger of passing on by suicide.

In spite of the fact that nature affects the frequency of suicide, a few investigations have called attention to that hereditary factors likewise assume a key job. Indeed, more established examinations have assessed the heritability of suicide at 50 percent.

New research that shows up in the diary Molecular Psychiatry utilizes current genomic sequencing procedures to discover particular hereditary elements that may raise the danger of suicide.

Dr. Douglas Gray, who is an educator of psychiatry at the University of Utah (U of U) Health in Salt Lake City, is the senior creator on the paper.

Full Articles Linked HERE and  HERE

Depression Might have Genetic Cause

The first thing that first comes to the mind after hearing the word depression is certainly not unicorns and rainbows. It is a very serious disorder, and people suffering from it feel helpless and worthless most of the time. According to the article on ScienceDaily, 800,000 people die from suicide every year. Even though environment plays a big role in depression, genetics is also a key factor. The culprit responsible is a gene known as Slc6a15.  The study done on this gene revealed that the levels of this gene in a neuron have a great impact on the mood of an individual. 

Another study performed by Dr. Lobo suggest that Slc6a15 is present more in specific neurons in the Nucleus accumbens. It is a part of the brain that is known for its role in the brain’s reward circuit. As the pleasure center, this part makes people feel good about enjoyable experiences. The scientists also studied mice behavior with respect to depression. When different types of mice were subjected to stress, they showed signs of depression like- not eating. Moreover; the level of Slc6a15 gene in the D2 neurons of the nucleus accumbens was also significantly reduced. Dr. Lobo also studied the brains of the people who had depression and committed suicide and discovered that in the nucleus accumbens the gene was reduced. Depression is a horrible mental disorder and I think this discovery might help find new ways to treat it.

Life Expectancy in U.S. Declines Slightly

It’s recently been discovered that the life expectancy  for Americans has declined. This is actually the first time this has happened since H.I.V. related deaths were at an all time high in 1993. The increase in the death rate was over 86,000. The main issue with this happening is that researchers aren't able to find a single cause for this occurrence. The possible causes range from heart disease to suicides. Dr. Peter Muennig, a professor of health policy and management at Colombia University’s Mailman School of Public Health stated that, “A .01 decrease is huge. Life expectancy increases, and that's very consistent and predictable, so to see it decrease, that's very alarming.” Dr. Muennig believes that the reason for the decline in life expectancy can be pointed at the increase in both obesity rates and opioids. There is also a connection between the decline and race. The life expectancy for working class white people has dropped which could be because of alcohol abuse, suicide and economic issues. Income also has an effect because of the stress put on from financial troubles. The life expectancy for women continues to be higher than men by 4.9 years which has actually increased since 2014. The recent changes won’t pose a threat unless this decline continues to keep happening.

Blood Test Predicts Suicidal Behavior Using Gene Changes

Millions of people try to or succeed in taking their own life each year.  As a doctor or psychiatrist, when determining if a person is likely to commit suicide, it is the professional's intuition that is being used.  Alexander Niculescu, of Indiana University in Indianapolis, found that chemicals in the blood may provide a clue of suicide.  Niculescu and collegues developed a blood test and a questionnaire that when used on 108 men receiving psychiatric treatment, it had a 92% accuracy as to whether they would develop suicide feelings over the next year.  To develop the test, the team took blood samples from 217 men who were undergoing psychiatric treatment. Gene expression was compared in 37 of the men who developed suicidal thoughts and in 26 deceased men who had committed suicide.  In this study, 11 gene changes were identified that could be biological markers for people who consider suicide.

Of these 11 genes, it was found that one of the genes, SKA2, indirectly affects the job of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (which deals with impulsive and negative thoughts).  When the gene becomes inactive, the HPA axis becomes heavily active which leads to negative thoughts.  Hyperactivity for this part of the brain, has been repeatedly linked to suicidal thoughts.  Another one of the genes linked to suicidal thoughts is SLC4A4.  This gene is linked to anxiety and panic attacks.  In some cases, suicidal thoughts can be similar to impulsive panic attacks.

This article circles around a very touchy, but real subject.  Suicide is real, as is depression, and many other diseases that affect brain chemical make-up.  It is astonishing how a blood test can detect changes in genes that have been evident to link to depression.  This blood test can be used during psychiatric treatments of people with depression and thoughts of suicide, by creating a treatment plan that fits to their diagnosis.  This blood test is another great way for psychiatrists and doctors to minimize the amount of people who commit suicide each year, as long as those people seek doctor's help.

The Price of Beauty

The pressure and stress society deems someone as “beautiful” can be quite demanding; for some it may mean taking great risk to achieve that beauty. This risk is also the cause of one million suffering in Britain—either by starvation or suicide, this is known as anorexia disorder. We have seen forms of anorexia from models and demanding parents. However studies have shown that anorexia can be also inherited!

In reality, scientists showed there is not just one social cause that leads to anorexia. In fact, the main drive for this disorder could either be the fear of entering adulthood or of losing parents’ attention. What which gene is the cause for this disorder, compared to schizophrenia—this disorder did not caught enough attention to gene hunters.

 Now, Britain and America teamed up with the rest of the world in order to gather 25,000 DNA samples from those who are anorexic and compare it to the DNA of the unaffected controlled group. Scientists hope that this will allow them to pinpoint the genes and study their function in order to develop a treatment. However the finding cannot be replicated and the project is back at square one.

The scientists hope that if the finding was successful, it can help lessen the guilt to parents of the anorexic child. According to Professor Janet, Treasure director of the Eating Disorders Unit at Bethlem Royal Hospital, the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, that parents need to understand that anorexia is caused by both environment and genetics cause. This disorder tends to happen during adolescence, it is a natural response—but it is the emotional reactions that get children sick.

Anorexia happens to 1-2% of teenagers and college students, though it can happen at any age. People who have anorexia sees themselves fat even though they eat the bare minimum amount of food allowing them to survive. They tend to secretly starve themselves and vomit the food they ate. People who tend to have anorexia tend to be: perfectionist, anxious or depressed, and obsessive. This disorder usually happens to more females than males; more specifically the daughter of two professional couples.

The global project for finding the gene responsible for anorexia, led by Professor Cynthia Bulik, an expert in eating disorders at the University of North Carolina in the US, identified the genes to be, AN25k. It is likely as the project continues they find other genes contributing to the cause of this disease. Studies show that of the risk 56% anorexia is contributed by genetic factors. The researchers are now hoping they find one gene that linked the illness altogether so they can develop a treatment.

This article to me was a relief to read, in my high school days my health teacher has shown me some very disturbing pictures of anorexia—we even watched videos about them. I feel so bad for all the girls I've seen, I want to tell them they are beautiful already—that they are harming their body by not eating. This disorder causes so much pain to not only to those who have it, but also to family members as well. 

Article: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/features/the-genetics-of-anorexia-9778489.html

Related article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2732887/UK-scientists-launch-hunt-anorexia-gene-Plea-1-000-volunteers-help-prove-health-victims-born-deadly-condition.html