A new meta-analysis of genetic data from over 220,000 people in the UK Biobank and All of Us datasets reveals that the genetic architecture of anxiety differs between females and males. Researchers identified 21 genetic variants linked to anxiety in females, but only 5 in males, suggesting that anxiety may have a stronger genetic component in women.
The study also found that the heritability of anxiety—how much of the risk is due to genetics—was significantly higher in females than in males. While the genetic factors for anxiety were largely similar between sexes, they were not identical, indicating some sex-specific genetic influences.
Additionally, the genetic links between anxiety and other traits like ADHD and BMI were stronger in females, while male anxiety showed stronger genetic correlations with waist-hip-ratio-adjusted BMI. These findings highlight the importance of studying males and females separately to uncover genetic signals that might be missed when combining them.
This research does not prove that genetics directly cause anxiety, but it provides clues about biological differences that could lead to better understanding and treatment. Future studies may explore how these genetic differences translate into different symptoms or treatment responses between sexes.
