A genetic analysis of nearly 700,000 individuals has identified 74 locations in the human genome associated with anxiety symptoms, including 39 previously unknown connections. The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, examined data from 693,869 people of European ancestry and represents the largest genome-wide investigation of anxiety to date. Researchers focused on symptom severity across the population rather than formal diagnoses, which allowed detection of more genetic signals than earlier work. Two genes, PCLO and SORCS3, emerged as particularly significant; both influence nerve cell communication in the brain. The findings also revealed genetic overlaps with certain physical conditions such as heart disease, migraine and digestive disorders. Anxiety affects an estimated 359 million people worldwide, or 4.4 percent of the global population, with projections reaching 515 million by 2040. The results provide a broader map of genetic influences and may guide future treatment development, though each variant contributes only modestly to overall risk alongside environmental factors.
