Is Anxiety Genetic? What a 1.2-Million-Person DNA Study Shows

Is Anxiety Genetic? What a 1.2-Million-Person DNA Study Shows

This article is for educational purposes only. It does not replace diagnosis, medical care, or genetic counseling. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed physician or a board-certified genetic counselor. For any choice about testing or treatment, talk with a qualified clinician. In an emergency, call 911 (US) or 9-1-1 (Canada). In a mental health crisis, call or text 988 (US) or 9-8-8 (Canada).

Bottom line: Research shows that anxiety is partly genetic. Twin studies put the genetic share at about 32% for generalized anxiety and 43% for panic disorder. A 2024 Nature Genetics study of about 1.27 million people found 51 gene regions tied to anxiety, each with only a tiny effect. No genetic test can diagnose anxiety. Symptoms, not a DNA score, should guide care. Talk therapy and medicine help people whatever their genes.

What you’ll learn

• What twin studies and the newest gene studies say about anxiety in families
• How common anxiety is, in plain “out of 100 people” terms
• What a 23andMe anxiety score can and cannot tell a person
• Which treatments work, and what laws protect genetic data in the US and Canada

How Anxiety Runs in Families: Twin Studies and Many Genes

Anxiety disorders are a group of conditions. They include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and phobias. These conditions often show up in more than one person in a family.

A key 2001 review pooled family and twin studies. It used a measure called heritability. Heritability is the share of differences between people in a group that links to genes. It is a group number. It is not a person’s chance of getting sick.

Condition	Heritability in twin studies	Source
Generalized anxiety disorder	0.32 (about 32%)	Hettema 2001
Panic disorder	0.43 (about 43%)	Hettema 2001
Anxiety disorders overall	30% to 60% (range cited)	Purves 2020

The same review also looked at families. Close relatives of people with anxiety had odds 4 to 6 times higher of having it too. An odds ratio compares how often something happens in one group versus another. It does not tell any one person their chance.

Genes are not the whole story. The review found that each person’s own life events explain much of the rest. These are things like stress, loss or illness that siblings do not share. For GAD in women, the shared family setting may also play a role.

Here is a simple way to sort the pieces:

• Genes: explain part of why anxiety clusters in families
• Personal life events: explain much of the rest
• Shared home life: may matter for some groups, such as women with GAD
• Chance: no study can predict exactly who will be affected

Anxiety is also polygenic. That means thousands of small gene changes each add a little risk. There is no single “anxiety gene.” It is not passed down like a dominant or recessive trait.

Think of height. Tall parents often have tall kids. Yet no one gene sets height, and food and health still matter. Anxiety works in a similar way. If anxiety runs in a family, a primary care clinician is a good first person to tell.

Section recap: Anxiety tends to run in families, and genes explain part of it. Many genes with tiny effects are involved, and life events matter a great deal too.

What the 2024 Nature Genetics Study Found (DRD2, FURIN, CNTN5)

In 2024, a large research team published a major gene study of anxiety in Nature Genetics. It was a genome-wide association study, or GWAS. A GWAS scans the DNA of many people. It looks for spots where people with a condition differ from people without it. Each spot found is called a locus (plural: loci).

The study pooled data from the US, Europe and other groups. Sources included All of Us, the Million Veteran Program, UK Biobank and FinnGen.

Ancestry group	Participants
European	1,096,458
African	118,071
Admixed American	36,634
South Asian	10,534
East Asian	5,083
Total	1,266,780 (97,383 with anxiety)

About 8 out of 100 participants had anxiety. About 87 out of 100 were of European ancestry. Fewer than 1 out of 100 were South Asian or East Asian.

Here is what the team found:

• 51 loci were linked to anxiety, and 39 of them were new.
• The genetic signal was strongest in genes active in the brain. This included areas for emotion, memory and movement.
• Further analysis pointed to 115 genes for future study.
• Anxiety shared genetic links with depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
• Anxiety genes also overlapped with many areas of physical health.

Why does the overlap with depression matter? It helps explain why anxiety and depression often show up together. Some of the same gene variants seem to raise the odds of both. This does not mean one condition causes the other.

Three genes drew the most attention. None of them “causes” anxiety. Each is a lead for future research, with a very small effect on its own.

Gene	What it does	Finding in the 2024 study
DRD2	Makes a receptor for dopamine, a brain messenger	Strongest gene-activity link, seen in the cerebellum
FURIN	Helps process proteins	Clearest single signal, variant rs4702, European samples
CNTN5	Helps brain cells connect	Top new locus, driven almost fully by European samples

This study built on earlier work. Two 2020 studies laid the groundwork.

Earlier study	Size	Main findings
Million Veteran Program, Levey 2020	199,611 people	Signals near SATB1 and ESR1; strong overlap with depression
UK Biobank, Purves 2020	25,453 cases	Five new loci, one near NTRK2; links to depression and insomnia

The Million Veteran Program study also found strong genetic links between anxiety, depression and neuroticism. Neuroticism is a personality trait marked by a tendency to worry and feel upset. One locus near MAD1L1 had already been tied to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The UK Biobank study found links with insomnia and heart disease as well.

Picture a stereo with thousands of tiny dials. Each gene variant turns one dial a hair. No single dial changes the sound much. Together, they shift it a little.

What does this mean for a reader today? Not much in daily life, at least for now. These findings help scientists learn how anxiety works in the brain. Over time, they may point to new treatments. They do not yet change how a clinician diagnoses or treats anxiety.

The study had limits. The East Asian and South Asian groups were small. So results may not carry over well to everyone. A clinician or genetic counselor can help a person sort out what this research means for them.

Section recap: The 2024 study found 51 gene regions tied to anxiety, including near DRD2, FURIN and CNTN5. Each has a tiny effect, and most data came from people of European ancestry.

How Big Is the Risk? Turning Numbers Into Real-World Odds

Anxiety disorders are very common. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) shares US estimates from national surveys. These figures come from surveys done in the early 2000s.

Group (NIMH estimate)	Rate	Out of 100 people
US adults, past year	19.1%	About 19 out of 100
US adults, at some point in life	31.1%	About 31 out of 100
Women, past year	23.4%	About 23 out of 100
Men, past year	14.3%	About 14 out of 100
Teens aged 13-18, lifetime	31.9%	About 32 out of 100

So in a room of 100 adults, about 31 will have an anxiety disorder at some point. That is the baseline.

The numbers also differ by sex. Among teens, about 38 out of 100 girls had an anxiety disorder, compared with about 26 out of 100 boys. Among teens with an anxiety disorder, about 8 out of 100 had severe impairment. These are estimates from older surveys, so current rates may differ.

Why do these baseline numbers matter so much? Because they are far larger than any effect from a single gene. A person’s real-world odds start from this base rate. Family history, life stress and many tiny gene effects then push it a little up or down. That is why a clinician asks about symptoms and family history first. A DNA score has not been shown to add much on top of those two things today.

Now, what about genes? It helps to keep three ideas apart:

• Heritability is not a personal chance. A figure of 32% does not mean a 32% chance of getting GAD.
• Family history raises the odds. Family studies found odds 4 to 6 times higher in close relatives. That is a group comparison, not a forecast for one person.
• Single gene spots barely move risk. Each of the 51 loci adds only a tiny amount.

No reliable source gives an exact risk number for a person with a high anxiety score. So this article does not offer one.

Put simply, a family history is a reason to stay alert, not a reason to panic. It is a reason to notice early signs and to seek help sooner. It is not proof that anxiety is coming.

Think of weather. A 40% rain forecast does not mean it will rain on your street. Gene scores work in a similar, uncertain way. A primary care clinician can weigh family history and symptoms together.

Section recap: About 31 out of 100 US adults will have an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Genes nudge this risk up or down, but they do not decide it.

Testing Options: A 23andMe Report vs a Clinical Check

Some people see an “Anxiety” result in a 23andMe report. It helps to know what kind of report that is.

23andMe lists Anxiety as a polygenic report based on more than 19,000 variants. The company says reports from its own research have not been reviewed by the FDA. It also says its test is not meant to diagnose any disease. It is not meant for medical decisions either.

It also helps to know what such a report does not show. It does not look at symptoms, stress or life events. It does not say how severe anxiety would be. It cannot say whether treatment would help.

Real diagnosis works very differently. In the US, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) advises screening adults for anxiety. This covers adults 64 and younger, including during and after pregnancy. For adults 65 and older, the evidence was not strong enough to advise either way.

The USPSTF also notes that anxiety often goes unnoticed in primary care. Treatment can be delayed as a result. Screening helps close that gap.

Feature	23andMe Anxiety report	Clinical check
What it uses	DNA from saliva	Talk with a clinician, plus questionnaires
What it gives	A likelihood estimate	A diagnosis, or none
Can it diagnose anxiety?	No	Yes
Reviewed by FDA?	Company says no	Not applicable
Leads to treatment?	No	Yes, if needed

A typical clinical visit may include these steps:

• Questions about worry, panic, sleep and mood over the past few weeks
• A short screening form filled out on paper or a tablet
• Questions about family history and current stress
• A check for other causes, such as other health problems or medicines
• A plan for next steps, such as therapy, medicine or follow-up

Clinicians often use short questionnaires. One common example is the GAD-7, a seven-question form about worry and tension. It is a tool, not a test of genes.

No genetic test can diagnose or rule out an anxiety disorder. A DNA score is like a long-range forecast. A clinical check is like looking out the window today. If worry affects work, sleep or family life, book a visit with a primary care clinician.

Section recap: A 23andMe anxiety score is not a diagnosis and is not FDA-reviewed. Anxiety is diagnosed by a clinician, and US guidance supports screening adults 64 and younger.

How to Read a Polygenic Result: A Score, Not a Diagnosis

A polygenic score adds up many small gene effects. The result is often shown as “increased likelihood” or “typical likelihood.” Here is what those labels mean, and what they do not:

• “Increased likelihood” means the score is higher than average in a reference group. It does not mean a person has anxiety or will get it.
• “Typical likelihood” means the score is near average. It does not mean a person is safe from anxiety.
• A low score can still come with real anxiety. About 31 out of 100 adults have it at some point, and most of the risk is not in the score.

Ancestry matters a lot. Scores like these are several times more accurate in people of European ancestry than in others. This is because most gene studies have mostly included European samples. The 2024 anxiety study had the same gap. So a score for someone of Asian, African or mixed ancestry is less certain.

These scores also differ from single-gene tests. A single-gene test might find a clear cause of a disease. It might also find a VUS, a “variant of uncertain significance,” which is a change whose meaning is not yet known. Polygenic scores fit neither pattern. They only estimate a small shift up or down.

Result type	What it means	Can it guide care alone?
Clear single-gene result	A known cause of some diseases	Sometimes, with a specialist
VUS	Meaning not yet known	No
Polygenic anxiety score	A small shift in likelihood	No

Here are some questions worth asking about any polygenic result:

• Which ancestry groups was the score built and tested in?
• How much does the score shift likelihood compared with the average?
• Does the report say whether it was reviewed by the FDA?
• Does the result change anything a clinician would do today?

For anxiety, the honest answer to the last question is usually no. Care is based on symptoms and daily impact. A clinician will still ask about family history, which already captures some genetic risk.

A score is like a credit score for a city, not for one home. It says little about the house in front of you. Never use the score to decide whether to seek care. A genetic counselor can explain a result in plain terms.

Section recap: A polygenic anxiety score is a rough estimate, not a diagnosis. It is less accurate outside European ancestry, and a low score does not rule anything out.

Treatment and Prevention: What Works Regardless of Genes

Good news: anxiety is very treatable. The main treatments work whether or not anxiety runs in the family. The guidelines cited here choose treatment by diagnosis, symptoms and side effects, not by a gene score.

Talk therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) teaches people to spot and change anxious thought patterns. A review of 41 trials with 2,843 patients compared CBT to placebo. A placebo is a fake treatment used for comparison. CBT had a moderate effect overall. It worked best for GAD, OCD and acute stress disorder.

Canadian guidelines. These name CBT alone, or CBT plus medicine, as a first choice. They list several medicines as first-line for GAD, including escitalopram, duloxetine and venlafaxine XR.

Medicine. A large 2019 review covered 89 trials and 25,441 adults with GAD. Duloxetine, venlafaxine and escitalopram worked better than placebo and were fairly well tolerated. The authors added that if a first drug fails, other options remain.

The table below shows US and Canadian label status for some common medicines. SSRIs and SNRIs are two families of antidepressants that act on brain messengers. The Canada column comes from Health Canada’s Drug Product Database and product monographs (DPD status checked October 10, 2026). All five medicines are marketed in Canada.

Medicine	Type	US FDA label for anxiety	Health Canada status
Escitalopram (Lexapro)	SSRI	GAD in adults and children 7+	GAD in adults
Duloxetine	SNRI	GAD in adults and children 7+	GAD in adults
Venlafaxine XR (Effexor XR)	SNRI	GAD, social anxiety and panic disorder in adults	GAD, social anxiety and panic disorder
Sertraline (Zoloft)	SSRI	Panic disorder, social anxiety, PTSD, OCD; not GAD	Depression, panic disorder, OCD; not GAD or social anxiety
Buspirone	Other	Management of anxiety disorders	Short-term relief of GAD

Sertraline stands out. Neither the US nor the Canadian label lists it for GAD. In Canada, it is also not listed for social anxiety.

These SSRI and SNRI labels carry a boxed warning, the FDA’s strongest label warning. In short-term studies, these drugs raised the risk of suicidal thoughts in children and young adults. Close follow-up is advised. Medicine choices belong with a prescriber.

Other medicines are also used. The Canadian guideline lists some as second-line choices for GAD. These include buspirone, bupropion XL, hydroxyzine, quetiapine XR, vortioxetine and some benzodiazepines.

The 2019 review found that quetiapine helped symptoms but was poorly tolerated. Paroxetine and benzodiazepines also worked but had more side effects. Label status for these other medicines is not covered here. A prescriber can check local labels.

Daily habits. Regular physical activity and steady sleep are often suggested as general support. They work best alongside care, not in place of it.

Think of it like fixing a roof. It does not matter why the leak started. The repair still works. If symptoms are getting worse, see a clinician soon.

In a crisis, help is available any time:

• US: call, text or chat 988
• Canada: call or text 9-8-8, 24/7
• Emergency: call 911 (US) or 9-1-1 (Canada)

Section recap: CBT and several medicines are proven to help anxiety, whatever a person’s genes. Talk with a prescriber about options, and use 988 or 9-8-8 in a crisis.

Family Implications: Siblings, Children and What to Share

For some single-gene diseases, doctors use cascade testing. That means testing relatives for one known family variant. This does not apply to anxiety. There is no single variant to look for.

A family history talk is more useful than relatives buying DNA tests. Here is what to share with a clinician:

• Which relatives have had anxiety, panic or depression
• About what age their symptoms began
• What treatments helped them
• Any other mental health conditions in the family

Children are a common worry. Anxiety is common in young people. CDC data show that ADHD and anxiety were the two most often diagnosed conditions in US kids aged 3 to 17. Each affected about 1 in 11 children, or about 9 to 10 out of 100. Mental health conditions can begin in early childhood.

In teens, NIMH estimates that about 32 out of 100 have had an anxiety disorder. NIMH also notes that anxiety can get in the way of school and relationships.

Age group	Estimate	Out of 100
Children aged 3-17 (diagnosed)	About 1 in 11	About 9 to 10
Teens aged 13-18 (lifetime)	31.9%	About 32

Siblings may also wonder about their own risk. A sibling shares about half of the same gene variants on average. So a sibling of someone with anxiety may have somewhat higher odds. Even so, buying a DNA test is not the most useful next step. Paying attention to symptoms is.

Some tips for talking with family:

• Share the facts calmly, without labels like “the anxious gene.”
• Explain that anxiety is common and treatable.
• Focus on symptoms and support, not on scores.
• Let each relative decide for themselves about any testing.
• Invite teens to talk about stress, sleep and school.

A child may inherit some risk, but nothing is settled at birth. Think of a seed. Soil, water and light shape how it grows. If a child’s worry affects school, sleep or friends, talk with a pediatrician or family doctor.

Section recap: Cascade testing does not apply to anxiety, so sharing family history works better. Anxiety is common in kids, and early help from a clinician matters.

Insurance, Privacy and Emotional Impact (GINA and Beyond)

Many people fear that a DNA result could hurt their insurance or job. Laws in both countries offer some protection.

In the US, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) passed in 2008. It bars health insurers and employers from using genetic data against people. But there are gaps.

Area	US (GINA)	Canada (Genetic Non-Discrimination Act)
Health insurance	Protected	Covered by contract rules below
Jobs	Protected at employers with 15+ staff	Labour Code and Human Rights Act amended
Life, disability, long-term care insurance	Not covered	See contract rules below
Required tests or disclosure	Limited to areas above	Barred as a condition of goods, services or contracts
Military	Not covered	Not addressed here

Canada’s Genetic Non-Discrimination Act became law in 2017. It bars anyone from requiring a genetic test, or test results, to provide goods or services. The same applies to entering or keeping a contract. Some US states also have extra laws.

There is an emotional side, too. A high score can add to worry, especially for someone already anxious. It may help to remember that the score is a small statistical nudge. It is not a verdict.

Some steps that can help keep a result in perspective:

• Read the result next to the base rate of about 31 out of 100 adults.
• Remember that the score is less accurate for many ancestries.
• Focus on how daily life feels, not on the number.
• Bring the report to a clinician rather than acting on it alone.
• Decide ahead of time who in the family should hear about it.

A genetic counselor can help put a result in context. In the US, genetic counselors are certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC). The National Society of Genetic Counselors keeps a directory at NSGC.org.

Think of genetic data like a house key. Some locks protect it well, while others do not. Before sharing results, learn which laws apply.

Section recap: GINA protects US health insurance and most jobs, but not life or disability coverage. Canada’s law bars required genetic tests or disclosure for contracts and services.

FAQ

Will a person whose parent has anxiety develop it too?

Not necessarily. Close relatives have higher odds than average in family studies. But many never develop an anxiety disorder. Life events also play a large part.

Will children inherit a parent’s anxiety?

Children may inherit some risk, spread across many genes. There is no single anxiety gene. Support at home and early help shape how things turn out.

Is there a genetic test that diagnoses anxiety?

No. Anxiety disorders are diagnosed by a clinician. A 23andMe score is an estimate, and the company says it is not meant to diagnose disease.

Can a genetic result affect health insurance or a job?

In the US, GINA bars health insurers and most employers from using genetic data. It does not cover life, disability or long-term care insurance. Canada’s law bars required genetic tests or disclosure for contracts.

Does anxiety with a family history respond to treatment?

Yes. CBT and several medicines work well for anxiety. Guidelines choose treatment by diagnosis and symptoms, not by genes.

Summary

• Anxiety is partly genetic, with twin study estimates of about 32% to 43%.
• The 2024 study found 51 gene regions, each with a tiny effect.
• About 31 out of 100 US adults will have an anxiety disorder at some point.
• A DNA score cannot diagnose anxiety, and it is less accurate outside European ancestry.
• CBT and medicines help, whatever a person’s genes.
• GINA and Canada’s law offer some, but not complete, protection.

The best next step does not depend on a score. If anxiety is affecting daily life, talk with a primary care clinician.

This article is for educational purposes only. It does not replace diagnosis, medical care, or genetic counseling. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed physician or a board-certified genetic counselor. For any choice about testing or treatment, talk with a qualified clinician. In an emergency, call 911 (US) or 9-1-1 (Canada). In a mental health crisis, call or text 988 (US) or 9-8-8 (Canada).

References

1. Friligkou E, et al. Gene discovery and biological insights into anxiety disorders from a large-scale multi-ancestry genome-wide association study. Nature Genetics. 2024;56(10):2036-2045. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39294497/
2. National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Any Anxiety Disorder. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
3. Hettema JM, Neale MC, Kendler KS. A review and meta-analysis of the genetic epidemiology of anxiety disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2001;158(10):1568-1578. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11578982/
4. Purves KL, et al. A major role for common genetic variation in anxiety disorders. Molecular Psychiatry. 2020;25:3292-3303. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31748690/
5. Levey DF, et al. Reproducible Genetic Risk Loci for Anxiety: Results From ~200,000 Participants in the Million Veteran Program. American Journal of Psychiatry. 2020;177(3):223-232. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31906708/
6. US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for Anxiety Disorders in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2023;329(24):2163-2170. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37338866/
7. Katzman MA, et al. Canadian clinical practice guidelines for the management of anxiety, posttraumatic stress and obsessive-compulsive disorders. BMC Psychiatry. 2014;14(Suppl 1):S1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25081580/
8. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA-approved labeling: Indications and Usage sections for selected SSRI/SNRI and anxiolytic medications (Lexapro, Effexor XR, duloxetine delayed-release, Zoloft, buspirone), via openFDA. https://api.fda.gov/drug/label.json?search=openfda.brand_name:%22LEXAPRO%22
9. Carpenter et al. Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Depression and Anxiety. 2018. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29451967/
10. Slee et al. Pharmacological treatments for generalised anxiety disorder: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet. 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30712879/
11. Martin et al. Clinical use of current polygenic risk scores may exacerbate health disparities. Nature Genetics. 2019. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30926966/
12. Bitsko et al. Mental Health Surveillance Among Children – United States, 2013-2019. CDC MMWR Supplements. 2022;71(2):1-42. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35202359/
13. National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI). Genetic Discrimination (Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Public Law 110-223). https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/policy-issues/Genetic-Discrimination
14. Government of Canada, Justice Laws Website. Genetic Non-Discrimination Act – An Act to prohibit and prevent genetic discrimination (S.C. 2017, c. 3). https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/G-2.5/FullText.html
15. Health Canada. Drug Product Database (DPD) and Canadian product monographs for escitalopram (CIPRALEX), duloxetine (APO-DULOXETINE), venlafaxine XR (EFFEXOR XR), sertraline (ZOLOFT) and buspirone (PMS-BUSPIRONE). Checked 2026-10-10. https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Author: Yu Mizuno (Editor-in-Chief, non-physician), GeneLumen editorial team. This article aggregates 15 sources from peer-reviewed medical literature and public agencies (tier 1=10 / tier 2=5). Cited sources include NIMH, CDC, NHGRI, the US FDA, Health Canada, the USPSTF and the Government of Canada. They also include Canadian clinical guidelines and PubMed-indexed studies.

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice from a licensed physician, board-certified medical geneticist, or board-certified genetic counselor. In emergencies, call 911 (US/Canada) or 119 (Japan).

Related: Neurogenetic Diseases category

🇯🇵 For readers in Japan — a separate Japanese edition written for Japan’s healthcare system (not a translation): https://genelumen.com/ja/ja-neurogenetic/anxiety-disorders-genetic-risk-ja