Genetic Pathways in Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A Rutgers-led international collaboration has identified 36 specific genes that significantly increase the risk for obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic tic disorders. This research, published in the September 2026 issue of Nature Neuroscience, provides the most granular biological view yet of these conditions. By analyzing the DNA of nearly 4,000 individuals, the team pinpointed rare mutations that disrupt the development and operation of brain circuitry.
Before this project, genetic understanding remained fragmented. Experts previously identified only a few clues linked to these disorders. This new map of 36 genes changes that math entirely. It offers a fresh starting point for researchers to examine how these conditions emerge in childhood and persist into adulthood.
Shared Biology and Clinical Implications
The study demonstrates that genes tied to obsessive-compulsive disorder and chronic tic disorders often overlap. These mutations frequently appear in pathways shared with autism and schizophrenia. This evidence reinforces the theory that multiple psychiatric conditions stem from related disruptions in brain development and communication between nerve cells.
Gary Heiman, a professor in the Department of Genetics at Rutgers, explains that the research highlights specific brain circuits. These areas govern movement, impulse control, and habit formation. The data indicates that many of these risk genes are active in the cortex and striatum, which are key regions for decision-making processes. Understanding these locations helps shift the focus from symptom management to targeting underlying neural mechanisms.
Scaling Drug Development and Future Research
Jay Tischfield, an emeritus professor at Rutgers, notes that the previous lack of genetic targets limited pharmaceutical interest in these disorders. The identification of over 30 new targets alters the situation for drug developers. Scientists can now focus on entire genetic networks rather than isolated mutations. This approach is intended to design therapies that address the biological roots of these conditions.
The research project relied on long-term data collection from families who volunteered their DNA samples over the last 20 years. These samples were preserved at the Rutgers Repository long before modern high-speed sequencing became affordable. The collaboration combined genetic data from more than 30 research teams across North America, Europe, South America, and South Korea to reach these findings.
As the field moves forward, the focus shifts to how these biological pathways can be modulated. Researchers intend to use these findings to refine clinical diagnostics and inform personalized care strategies. The work serves as a prime example of how longitudinal data can provide answers once technology finally catches up to the scale of the questions asked. Families who participated in these studies decades ago were critical to this discovery, and their contribution remains a cornerstone of current genetic research.