This study identifies 1,257 genetic variants associated with human personality traits using large-scale GWAS and finds widespread genetic correlations with behaviors and life outcomes.

bioRxiv · May 16, 2025 · PreprintGenomics

Multi-ancestral genome-wide association study of clinically defined nicotine dependence reveals strong genetic correlations with other substance use disorders and health-related traits.

Emma C. Johnson, Dongbing Lai, Jared V. Balbona, Alex P. Miller, Alexander Samir Hatoum, Joseph D. Deak, Mariela V. Jennings, David A. A. Baranger, Marco Galimberti, Kittipong Sanichwankul, Thorgeir Elís Thorgeirsson, Sarah M. C. Colbert, Keyrun Adhikari, Anna R. Docherty, Louisa J Degenhardt, , Arpana Agrawal A

This study performs a multi-ancestral GWAS of DSM-defined nicotine dependence, finding genetic correlations with other substance use disorders and health traits, and identifying a strong general addiction liability factor.

Psychological Medicine · Jan 1, 2025Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Genome-wide meta-analyses of non-response to antidepressants identify novel loci and potential drugs

Elise M. Koch, Tuuli Jürgenson, Guðmundur Einarsson, Brittany L. Mitchell, Arvid Harder, Luis M. García‐Marín, Kristi Krebs, Yuhao Lin, Ying Xiong, Yi Lü, Sara Hägg, Miguel E. Rentería, Sarah Elizabeth Medland, Naomi R. Wray, Nicholas G. Martin, , Kevin Sean O’Connell

This study identifies two novel genomic loci associated with antidepressant non-response and suggests potential drugs for further validation.

medRxiv · Jul 13, 2024 · PreprintGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Disentangling the shared genetics of ADHD, cannabis use disorder and cannabis use and prediction of cannabis use disorder in ADHD

Trine Tollerup Nielsen, Jinjie Duan, Daniel F. Levey, G. Bragi Walters, Emma C. Johnson, Thorgeir Elís Thorgeirsson, VA Million Veteran Program, Thomas Mears Werge, Preben Bo Mortensen, Hreinn Stefánsson, Kāri Stefánsson, DAVID MICHAEL HOUGAARD, Arpana Agrawal A, Joel E. Gelernter, Jakob Grove, , Ditte Demontis

This paper identifies shared genetic risk loci between ADHD, cannabis use disorder, and cannabis use, and predicts cannabis use disorder risk in ADHD using polygenic scores.

medRxiv · Feb 22, 2024 · PreprintGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Identification of 64 new risk loci for major depression, refinement of the genetic architecture and risk prediction of recurrence and comorbidities

Thomas D. Als, Mitja Kurki, Jakob Grove, Georgios Voloudakis, Karen Therrien, Elisa M. Tasanko, Trine Tollerup Nielsen, Joonas Naamanka, Kumar Veerapen, Daniel F. Levey, Jaroslav M. Bendl, Jonas Bybjerg‐Grauholm, Biao Zeng, Ditte Demontis, Anders Rosengren, , Anders Dupont Børglum

This study identifies 64 new risk loci for major depression, refines its genetic architecture, and shows strong genetic overlap with other psychiatric disorders and educational attainment.

Nature Medicine · Jul 1, 2023Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Genome-wide analysis of 102,084 migraine cases identifies 123 risk loci and subtype-specific risk alleles

Heidi M Hautakangas, Bendik Slagsvold Winsvold, Sanni Ruotsalainen, Gyða Björnsdóttir, Aster V. E. Harder, Lisette J. A. Kogelman, Laurent F. Thomas, Raymond Noordam, Christian Benner, Padhraig Gormley, Ville Artto, Karina Banasik, Anna Bjornsdottir, Dorret Irene Boomsma, Ben Michael Brumpton, , Matti Pirinen

This GWAS identifies 123 migraine risk loci, including subtype-specific variants and novel targets, supporting neurovascular mechanisms in migraine.

Nature Genetics · Feb 1, 2022Peer-reviewedGenetic & Genomic Medicine

Deep learning based brain age prediction uncovers associated sequence variants

Benedikt A. Jónsson, Gyða Björnsdóttir, Thorgeir Elís Thorgeirsson, Lotta M. Ellingsen, G. Bragi Walters, Daniel Fannar Gudbjartsson, Hreinn Stefánsson, Kāri Stefánsson, Magnus Orn Ulfarsson

This paper uses deep learning to predict brain age from MRI scans and identifies genetic variants associated with the predicted age difference.

Nature Communications · Nov 27, 2019Peer-reviewedNeuroscience

The nature of nurture: effects of parental genotypes

Augustine Kong, Guðmar Þorleifsson, Michael L. Frigge, Bjarni Jóhann Vilhjálmsson, Alexander I. Young, Thorgeir Elís Thorgeirsson, Stefania Benónísdóttir, Ásmundur Oddsson, Bjarni V. Halldórsson, Gísli Másson, Daniel Fannar Gudbjartsson, Agnar Helgason, Gyða Björnsdóttir, Unnur Þorsteinsdóttir, Kāri Stefánsson

The paper shows that non-transmitted parental alleles affect a child's traits through their impact on parents and relatives, termed genetic nurture, with significant effects on educational attainment and other traits.

Science · Jan 25, 2018Peer-reviewedGenetics