An international consortium of scientists dissects the shared genetic architecture of #suicideattempts, #psychiatricdisorders, and non-psychiatric risk factors.
In the largest genetic study of #suicideattempts to date, researchers have identified a region of the genome on chromosome 7 containing DNA variations that increase the risk that a person will attempt #suicide.
The study also found overlap in the genetic basis of #suicideattempts and that of related #psychiatricdisorders, particularly major #depression, and also with that of non-psychiatric risk factors such as smoking, risk-taking behavior, sleep disturbances, and poorer general health. The study results, published on November 30, 2021, in Biological Psychiatry, suggest that the genetic underpinnings of #suicideattempts are partially shared and partially distinct from those of related #psychiatricdisorders.
#Suicide is a worldwide public health problem, accounting for almost 800,000 deaths per year. Non-fatal #suicideattempts are estimated to occur more than 20 times for every death by #suicide and are a major source of disability, reduced quality of life, and social and economic burden. Suicidal thoughts and #behaviors can be reduced with proper #mentalhealthsupport and treatment. Therefore, it is critical to gain insight into the underlying biological pathways involved in #suicideattempts or suicidal thoughts, which could provide potential avenues to treatment and prevention strategies.
To help elucidate the underlying biology of #suicideattempts, an international consortium of scientists from the International #Suicide Genetics Consortium conducted a genome-wide association study. This method involves scanning the DNA of many people, looking for genetic markers that were more common in those who had made a #suicideattempt. The team scanned more than 7.5 million common variations in the DNA sequence of nearly 550,000 people, almost 30,000 of whom had made a #suicideattempt.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
Level of association of more than 7.5 million common genetic variants with #suicideattempt, before and after adjusting for #psychiatricdisorders. Genetic variants above the gray line pass the statistical significance level. Credit: Niamh Mullins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
“In addition to identifying the risk location for #suicideattempt on chromosome 7, we uncovered a strong overlap in the genetic basis of #suicideattempt and that of psychiatric disorders, particularly major #depression, as well as some overlap with the genetics of smoking, pain, risk-taking, sleep disturbances, and poorer general health,” said Niamh Mullins, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatric Genomics at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, co-founder and co-chair of the consortium, and lead author of the paper. “This genetic overlap with non-psychiatric risk factors was largely unchanged by adjusting for #psychiatricdisorders, which suggests that a substantial component of the biological basis of #suicideattempt is not simply a byproduct of comorbid psychiatric disease, but instead may be the result of shared biology with non-psychiatric risk factors.”
The association between genetic variations on chromosome 7 and risk of attempting #suicide was also not mediated by comorbid psychiatric disorders, and was replicated through an independent analysis of more than 14,000 veterans who had made a #suicideattempt from the Million #Veterans Program, a national research program to learn how genes, lifestyle, and military exposures affect health and illness.
“This study is an exciting advancement of our understanding of how the genetics of #suicideattempt relate to that of psychiatric and non-psychiatric risk factors,” said JooEun Kang, an MD-PhD student at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and co-lead author of this paper.
DNA variations in this region have previously been linked with #insomnia, smoking, and risk-taking #behavior, and although future work is needed to uncover the underlying biological mechanism, findings like these bring researchers a step closer to understanding the neurobiology of suicidality.
“The study findings also point to the importance of studying the potential direct causal paths between these risk factors and #suicideattempt in #patients with and without psychiatric illness,” added Douglas Ruderfer, PhD Associate Professor of Genetic Medicine, Psychiatry, and Biomedical Informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, co-founder and co-chair of the consortium, and senior author of the paper.
The International #Suicide Genetics Consortium includes more than 260 scientists in more than 20 countries who are dedicated to studying the genetic basis of suicidality. Their work provides the foundation for future larger studies to identify genetic risk factors for #suicideattempts in other areas of the genome, as well as additional studies focused on suicidal thoughts. The ultimate goal of this research is to gain insight into the underlying biological pathways involved in suicidality, providing potential avenues to treatments and prevention strategies.
If you are in crisis, please call the #NationalSuicidePrevention 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: http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
