Researchers at Yale School of Medicine have made a breakthrough in understanding how genes shape personality traits. The team identified new genetic sites associated with specific personality traits, such as extraversion, openness, agreeableness, neuroticism, and conscientiousness.
The study used data from the Million Veteran Program to analyze the genetic variations, or “loci,” that are linked to these personality traits. By combining this data with previous research, the team was able to perform a meta-analysis involving almost 700,000 individuals, making it the largest genome-wide association study for personality traits to date.
The findings showed that neuroticism is associated with 62 new genetic loci, while agreeableness was linked to several new loci. The researchers also identified over 200 genetic loci across all five personality traits.
While the study highlights the importance of genetics in shaping personality, it also emphasizes the need for larger and more diverse sample sizes to gain a clearer understanding of these associations. Levey hopes that future studies will include millions of participants from diverse backgrounds, allowing researchers to better understand how genes interact with environmental factors to shape personality.
The study also explored the connections between personality traits and mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. The findings confirmed the existing psychiatric knowledge that neuroticism is linked to these conditions, while agreeableness is associated with lower risk of developing them.
Priya Gupta, a postdoctoral associate in Levey’s lab, notes that understanding our personality traits can help us become more aware of potential mental health risks and develop effective coping strategies. However, Levey emphasizes that personality will adapt and change over time, and that genetics do not predetermine one’s fate.
The researchers hope that their findings may eventually inform early treatment for mental health conditions by identifying individuals at higher risk due to certain personality traits. Ultimately, the study highlights the importance of considering genetic factors in understanding human behavior and developing effective interventions.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-09-genes-personality-traits-links.html