One of the greatest challenges in modern genetics is schizophrenia. This disorder appears to arise from hundreds of genetic variants, each with small effects on different brain processes. Together, they contribute to the risk of developing the disease.

The study, published in Nature Genetics, identified 766 genes associated with schizophrenia, including 641 that had not appeared in previous analyses. Many were due to long-range genetic regulatory signals, indicating that these genes function as a network rather than isolated elements.

With this detailed picture, scientists can more precisely investigate the behavior of the disease and its potential treatments. The research analyzed genetic data from over 102,000 people, including brain tissue samples from six regions obtained from hundreds of donors.

Schizophrenia affects approximately one in every 345 people worldwide, with diverse symptoms that reflect complex biological mechanisms. This diversity underscores the intricate nature of the disorder and why a single gene cannot be blamed.

The study reveals that variants coordinate to collectively contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia, akin to turning on lights in an entire neighborhood rather than just a few houses.