It is estimated that about 10% of the UK population, about 6.3 million people, are dyslexic. Previous research has suggested it has a heritable component, with studies suggesting genetics account for somewhere between 40% and 80% of the average differences between those with dyslexia and general population.
However, pinpointing specific genetic variants that may play a role has proved challenging. Now researchers say they have identified about 170 genes and 42 specific genetic variants significantly associated with dyslexia in the largest such study to date.
While 15 of these variants have previously been linked to cognitive ability and educational attainment, the remaining 27 are newly identified – meaning they have not previously been linked to traits associated with dyslexia.
“At the moment, there are no direct implications for people with dyslexia, although it helps them understand that the condition has very complex causes,” said the lead researcher, Dr Michelle Luciano, of the University of Edinburgh.
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But Luciano said the results did offer insights into the biology underlying dyslexia. “We can follow up the significant genes to see what their function is and how it might relate to the cognitive processes involved in reading and spelling,” she said.
