Shared genetic architecture between autism spectrum disorder, loneliness, and social isolation reveals novel genetic loci.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Deficits in social communication and social interaction are core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and studies suggest that loneliness and social isolation are common. ASD has a strong genetic basis, but the genetic architecture and overlap with social phenotypes are not clear.

Methods

We analyzed summary statistics from genome-wide association studies on ASD (46 350), loneliness (452 302), and social isolation (288 950), using linkage disequilibrium score regression, local analysis of covariant annotation (LAVA), bivariate causal mixture model (MiXeR), and the conditional/conjunctional false discovery rate (cond/conjFDR).

Results

For ASD and social isolation, we found nonsignificant global genetic correlation ( rg = 0.02, P  = 0.8), but LAVA ident

SUBMITTER: Hope S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12834293 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature