Genetic links between OCD, Tourette syndrome, and autism deepen understanding of shared brain pathways

A groundbreaking international study uncovers 36 common genes and brain circuits implicated in obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome, and autism, suggesting shared biological roots and paving the way for more personalised treatments.

A new international study suggests obsessive-compulsive disorder, Tourette syndrome and autism may share more than symptoms: they may also share biological roots in the brain and genome. Researchers identified 36 genes linked to the risk of these conditions and found that most of them appear in both obsessive-compulsive disorder and tic disorders, offering a stronger explanation for why these diagnoses often overlap in the same person.

Published in Nature Neuroscience on 1 September, the work drew on data from nearly 4,000 people with obsessive-compulsive disorder, tic disorders, or both. ScienceAlert reported that the study substantially expands the list of genes previously tied to these conditions, which had stood at only four with stronger evidence. That earlier genetic overlap had already been hinted at in past research, including studies in PubMed and reviews in Nature and other journals showing shared risk signals between Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder and autism.

The new analysis also points to common brain circuits involved in thought, impulse control and movement. According to the report, the genes were especially active in the cortex, striatum, thalamus and cerebellum, and their activity was seen both before and after birth. Researchers also highlighted the role of a specific type of neuron that helps bridge communication across different parts of the brain, suggesting that these disorders may arise from disruptions in connected networks rather than from a single faulty gene.

Jay Tischfield, one of the study authors, said in a statement that these genes do not act on their own but work in networks, opening the door to treatments that target several biological pathways at once. The study also found that some of the identified variants could be associated with a sharply higher risk, in some cases many times greater than in people without them. For families, the practical significance is that these findings may eventually help researchers move towards more personalised care, matching therapies more closely to a child’s specific neurodevelopmental profile.