Characterizing the Shared Genetic Underpinnings of Schizophrenia and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

What is it about?

A new study indicates that people with schizophrenia have an increased genetic propensity to smoking, while a reduced genetic liability to obesity. Schizophrenia also shares genetic variants with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease (e.g. lipids, blood pressure, type 2 diabetes). Half of these variants relate to increased risk of schizophrenia, while the other half are associated with decreased risk. The findings underscore the role of complex genetic factors that interplay with lifestyle factors in cardiovascular disease in people with schizophrenia.

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