Brain & Mental Health

Key neurotrophin variant that controls activity-dependent BDNF release, affecting memory consolidation, neuroplasticity, and stress resilience

Reduces dopamine D2 receptor density in the striatum, affecting reward processing, reinforcement learning, and addiction susceptibility

Promoter variant that modulates dopamine D4 receptor expression in the prefrontal cortex, influencing novelty seeking and cognitive flexibility

Strongest known genetic determinant of dopamine beta-hydroxylase activity, controlling the dopamine-to-norepinephrine ratio

Influences episodic memory performance and hippocampal function through the KIBRA protein's role in synaptic plasticity

Co-chaperone of the glucocorticoid receptor that regulates cortisol feedback — the T allele impairs stress recovery and, combined with early adversity, strongly increases risk of PTSD and depression

Most-studied oxytocin receptor variant, influencing empathy, social sensitivity, stress resilience through social buffering, and emotional regulation

Promoter variant affecting brain serotonin synthesis enzyme; influences emotional reactivity, anxiety, and depression risk

Regulatory variant in serotonin 2A receptor gene affecting SSRI side effects and potentially treatment response

GABA-A receptor alpha-2 subunit variant affecting alcohol response, anxiety, and addiction vulnerability

Affects anandamide levels through altered FAAH enzyme stability, influencing pain sensitivity, stress response, fear extinction, and mood regulation

X-linked monoamine oxidase A variant affecting enzyme activity and neurotransmitter breakdown

Promoter SNP near 5-HTTLPR that modifies serotonin transporter expression and antidepressant response

Intronic glucocorticoid receptor variant affecting cortisol sensitivity and stress response regulation

Nicotinic receptor variant strongly associated with heavy smoking, nicotine dependence, and increased lung cancer risk

Second strongest genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease after APOE, associated with increased tau pathology and accelerated cognitive decline

Intronic variant in clusterin gene affecting Alzheimer's disease risk through regulation of amyloid-beta clearance

Rare missense variant in microglial receptor TREM2 that significantly increases late-onset Alzheimer's disease risk through impaired microglial function and amyloid clearance

Variant in the PICALM gene affecting amyloid-beta clearance across the blood-brain barrier and Alzheimer's disease risk

Parkinson's disease GWAS risk variant affecting alpha-synuclein expression and neuronal differentiation

Haplotype-tagging variant distinguishing MAPT H1 and H2 clades, affecting risk for Parkinson disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, and other tauopathies

Common variant in the Nav1.7 sodium channel affecting pain sensitivity and pain threshold

Capsaicin receptor variant affecting heat and pain sensitivity

Promoter variant affecting GTP cyclohydrolase 1 expression and pain sensitivity, with opposite effects in European vs African populations

Intronic variant affecting thermal pain sensitivity and central pain signal transmission

Red hair and fair skin variant causing significantly increased pain sensitivity and requiring 20% more anesthesia

Loss-of-function variant in the P2X7 receptor that reduces inflammatory response and may modulate pain sensitivity

Common noncoding variant upstream of LRRK2 that increases gene expression in microglia and Parkinson's disease risk

L-type calcium channel gene variant affecting mood regulation, emotional processing, and psychiatric disorder risk