Antipsychotic induced weight gain: genetics, epigenetics, and biomarkers reviewed

Area of Science:

• Pharmacogenetics
• Neuroscience
• Metabolic Disorders

Background:

• Antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) is a common, significant side effect of antipsychotic medications, particularly second-generation agents.
• Current methods for predicting AIWG are limited, impacting patient treatment adherence and outcomes.
• Identifying predictive markers is crucial for personalized psychiatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent genetic, epigenetic, and biomarker findings associated with AIWG.
• To highlight consistently replicated genetic associations for AIWG prediction.
• To explore the potential of genetic risk variants in developing predictive tools for AIWG.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on genetic, epigenetic, and biomarker research in AIWG over the past year.
• Analysis of consistently replicated gene associations.
• Synthesis of findings related to predictive modeling for AIWG.

Main Results:

• Several genes show associations with AIWG, with melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R), serotonin 2C receptor (HTR2C), leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and cannabinoid receptor 1 (CNR1) demonstrating consistent replication.
• Emerging epigenetic and biomarker findings are also contributing to understanding AIWG.
• Genetic risk variants show promise as predictive markers for AIWG.

Conclusions:

• Genetic factors represent a promising avenue for predicting AIWG.
• Continued research into genetic and other biomarkers may lead to tools for personalized antipsychotic therapy.
• Future predictive models incorporating genetic risk variants could mitigate AIWG adverse effects.