The burden of complex genetics in brain disorders.
BACKGROUND
Few data estimate the impact of complex genetics in neuropsychiatric illness, making it likely that this impact could be underappreciated.


OBJECTIVE
To provide estimates of the impact of complex genetics in neuropsychiatric disorders in the United States, based on estimates of disease costs to US society, disease heritability, and mendelian contributions to disease.


METHODS
Costs were estimated from literature sources and Lewin-National Foundation for Brain Research estimates updated for population growth and consumer price index inflation. Heritability estimates came from available twin data. Estimates of mendelian contributions came from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database and our perspectives.


CONCLUSIONS
Brain and nervous system disorders may cost the United States as much as US dollars 1.2 trillion annually, and affect many millions of Americans each year. Twin data suggest that more than 40% of the societal burden of brain disorders is likely to be genetically mediated. Most of this disease burden arises from complex multigene genetics as well as from environmental influences. The large sizes of these complex genetic burdens should encourage careful molecular and clinical work to link disease-vulnerability allelic variants with the pathogenesis, nosologic characteristics, prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutics of brain disorders.
Uhl
George R
GR
Molecular Neurobiology Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. guhl@intra.nida.nih.gov
Grow
Robert W
RW
D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000235:genetics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000235:genetics*; D014481:United States