People who have autism, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder may have different challenges, but the ailments might arise from a common set of genes.

Researchers compared genetic analyses of 700 human brains from deceased individuals who had one of those three disorders, major depression or alcoholism with brains of individuals who had none of the conditions.

They examined 13 groups of genes thought to function together. The scientists found that five groups had a pattern of overactivity or underactivity across at least three of the five conditions.

– Mark Fishetti

Read more: The Same Genes May Underlie Different Psychiatric Disorders

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