Genes explain stuttering

MADRID (EFE).— A large-scale study has identified 57 genetic regions linked to stuttering, a disorder that affects more than 400 million people worldwide.

The research, led by Vanderbilt University (Tennessee), is published in the journal Nature Genetics and provides key clues to understanding the origins of the problem and improving its treatment.

“No one really understands why someone stutters; it’s been a complete mystery,” said Jennifer Below, director of the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute. According to the specialist, this speech disorder has been little studied because it doesn’t require hospitalization, although it does have a profound impact on the lives of those who suffer from it.

The scientific team worked with genetic data from more than a million people. The results reveal that stuttering shares a genetic structure with other conditions such as autism and depression. "These studies suggest that there may be a shared genetic basis," said Jennifer Below.

Dillon Pruett, a researcher and co-author of the study who also lives with stuttering, emphasized the importance of the finding: “There are many unanswered questions about this disorder, and verifying that so many genes are involved may help dispel the stigma.”

Scientists hope these advances will lead to more effective treatments or earlier identification.

"A better understanding of the causes could replace outdated ideas still held by the general public that contribute to the stigma," the authors of the paper emphasized.

Developmental stuttering often appears in childhood, between the ages of two and five. “Eighty percent of cases resolve spontaneously, with or without therapy,” Below noted. However, for those who persist, it can have lasting social, educational, and occupational consequences.

"Young people who stutter report more bullying and a more negative educational experience," the researcher stated. She also indicated that adults may be affected in the workplace and in their psychological well-being.

The study, one of the largest on the genetics of language, opens new perspectives on how the brain processes speech. “There could be a common pathway between musicality, language, and speech,” Below suggested, reflecting on the connections discovered in brain architecture.

The researchers believe the results will help change public perceptions of the disorder and reduce discrimination. "This study is a major step toward new therapies and a more understanding society for those who stutter," Pruett concluded.