Well-being spectrum traits are associated with polygenic scores for autism.

This study looked at whether having genes associated with autism affects well-being in adults. Researchers analyzed genetic data from over 337,000 people and found that those with more autism-related genetic variants reported lower well-being - they experienced more depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and less life satisfaction and positive feelings. While the genetic effects were small, this suggests there may be biological factors that contribute to the well-being challenges often seen in autistic people.

This large-scale genetic study examined whether genetic predisposition to autism is associated with well-being outcomes in adults. Using polygenic risk scores (PRS) for autism derived from 18,381 autism cases and 27,969 controls, researchers analyzed associations with five well-being spectrum traits in 337,423 UK Biobank participants. Results showed that higher autism genetic risk was significantly associated with poorer well-being across all measures: increased neuroticism, depression, and loneliness, and decreased life satisfaction and positive affect. While effect sizes were small (0.04%-0.10% variance explained), the statistical significance was extremely strong (p < 1 × 10^-10).

This suggests a genetic component linking autism susceptibility to reduced well-being in the general population, though environmental and social factors likely play larger roles.

Results suggest genetic predisposition may contribute to well-being challenges in autism, but environmental and social factors likely play larger roles. Findings support comprehensive approaches to supporting autistic individuals that address both biological vulnerabilities and psychosocial factors affecting mental health and life satisfaction.

Small effect sizes indicate genetic factors explain minimal variance in well-being. Study limited to genetic associations without examining environmental, social, or diagnostic factors. No information provided about actual autism diagnoses in the sample or how genetic risk translates to clinical outcomes.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) tend to experience lower well-being as demonstrated mostly for children and adolescents in epidemiological studies. A further investigation of inclusive well-being, in terms of five well-being spectrum (5-WBS) traits including neuroticism, depression, loneliness, life satisfaction, and positive affect, among adults with ASD may deepen our understanding of their well-being, and lead to the possibility to further modify societal supportive mechanisms for individuals with ASD. This study aims to investigate if a genetic predisposition for ASD is associated with 5-WBS traits using polygenic risk score (PRS) analysis. PRS for ASD were calculated based on the latest genome-wide association study of ASD by the Psychiatric Genetics Consortium (18,381 cases, 27,969 controls) and were created in the independent cohort UK Biobank.

Regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between ASD PRS and 5-WBS traits in the UK Biobank population including 337,423 individuals. ASD PRS were significantly associated with all 5-WBS traits, showing a positive association with the negative WBS traits, neuroticism (max R = 0.04%, p < 1 × 10), depression (max R = 0.06%, p < 1 × 10), loneliness (max R = 0.04%, p < 1 × 10), and a negative association with the positive WBS traits, life satisfaction (max R = 0.08%, p < 1 × 10), positive affect (max R = 0.10%, p < 1 × 10). The findings suggest that adults carrying a high load of risk single nucleotide peptides (SNPs) for ASD are more likely to report decreased well-being. The study demonstrates a considerable connection between susceptibility to ASD, its underlying genetic etiology and well-being.