116 independent genetic variants influence the neuroticism personality trait in over 329,000 UK Biobank individuals.

Luciano, M.; Hagenaars, S. P.; Davies, G.; Hill, W. D.; Clarke, T.-K.; Shirali, M.; Marioni, R.; Harris, S. E.; Liewald, D. C.; Fawns-Ritchie, C.; Adams, M. J.; Howard, D. M.; Lewis, C. M.; Gale, C. R.; McIntosh, A. M.; Deary, I. J.

doi:10.1101/168906

bioRxiv · 10.1101/168906

116 independent genetic variants influence the neuroticism personality trait in over 329,000 UK Biobank individuals.

Luciano, M.·Hagenaars, S. P.·Davies, G.·Hill, W. D.·Clarke, T.-K.·Shirali, M.·Marioni, R.·Harris, S. E.·Liewald, D. C.·Fawns-Ritchie, C.·Adams, M. J.·Howard, D. M.·Lewis, C. M.·Gale, C. R.·McIntosh, A. M.·Deary, I. J.

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Abstract

Neuroticism is a stable personality trait 1; twin studies report heritability between 30% and 50% 2, and SNP-based heritability is about 15% 3. Higher levels of neuroticism are associated with poorer mental and physical health 4,5, and the economic burden of neuroticism for societies is high 6. To date, genome-wide association (GWA) studies of neuroticism have identified up to 11 genetic loci 3,7. Here we report 116 significant independent genetic loci from a GWA of neuroticism in 329,821 UK Biobank participants, with replication available in a GWA meta-analysis of neuroticism in 122,867 individuals. Genetic signals for neuroticism were enriched in neuronal genesis and differentiation pathways, and substantial genetic correlations were found between neuroticism and depressive symptoms (rg = .82, SE=.03), major depressive disorder (rg = .69, SE=.07) and subjective wellbeing (rg = -.68, SE=.03) alongside other mental health traits. These discoveries significantly advance our understanding of neuroticism and its association with major depressive disorder.

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Luciano, M., Hagenaars, S. P., Davies, G., Hill, W. D., Clarke, T.-K., Shirali, M., Marioni, R., Harris, S. E., Liewald, D. C., Fawns-Ritchie, C., Adams, M. J., Howard, D. M., Lewis, C. M., Gale, C. R., McIntosh, A. M., Deary, I. J.. 2017-07-28. 116 independent genetic variants influence the neuroticism personality trait in over 329,000 UK Biobank individuals.. https://doi.org/10.1101/168906

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