Breakthrough in Dyslexia Treatment for Children. Scientists Discover 13 Genes

The Genetic Clue That Changes the Picture of Dyslexia

“We conducted the largest genetic study of dyslexia in history,” write the scientists of the international research team. Their analysis covered genetic data from 1.2 million people, allowing for unprecedented precision in mapping the genes.

Dyslexia is a condition that affects reading, writing, and processing verbal information. Earlier twin studies suggested that genes strongly determine it—they estimated their influence at 40-60 percent. Now, researchers took on the challenge of precisely identifying which regions of the genome hold responsibility for this.

Is Dyslexia Hereditary?

The researchers identified a total of 80 genomic regions associated with dyslexia. They had not previously recognized 36 of them as significant. A striking 13 regions were never before linked to reading difficulties.

Many newly identified genes play a critical role in early brain development. Genes affecting neurons interacting with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) proved particularly important.

The Link to ADHD – And a Certain Surprise

Furthermore, some of these genes overlap with genes associated with ADHD, which may explain why both conditions often co-occur. At the same time, they found no significant genetic correlation with autism, which challenges some previous hypotheses.

The Unexpected Link to Pain

Analyzing the vast datasets revealed something surprising: a correlation between dyslexia and chronic pain. “The underlying mechanism remains unexplained, however, the genetic overlap between pain-related phenotypes and neurodevelopmental traits may point to a shared biological basis,” reads the study published in Translational Psychiatry.

Dyslexia and… Pain? An Unusual Clue

Individuals with dyslexia more frequently report body-wide pain, neck and shoulder pain, and discomfort while walking. This discovery opens a completely new research perspective. Could some people with dyslexia be more sensitive to pain? Or do common developmental processes in the brain influence both language processing and pain perception?

Brain, Neurons, GABA. What Did Scientists Discover?

Identifying these genes is only the beginning. The researchers calculated that the discovered genetic variants explain 12.9 to 20.4 percent of the heritability of dyslexia—depending on how we estimate its prevalence in the population. Scientists also tested how well their discoveries correlated with reading difficulties. In a study of 6,410 children, their genetic model explained 2.3 to 4.7 percent of the variance in reading skills—small, but enough to confirm the validity of the discoveries.

Now, scientists can investigate exactly how these genes influence brain development and why some people struggle with reading. Researchers are now closer to fully understanding the genetic basis of dyslexia and how to use this knowledge for better support.

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Read this article in Polish: Przełom w leczeniu dysleksji u dzieci. Naukowcy odkryli 13 genów