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Causal association between cataract and psychiatric disorders: A bidirectional 2-sample Mendelian randomization study
1Department of Psychiatry, Shengzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shengzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Medicine
|August 7, 2026
Summary
This study explored genetic links between cataracts and psychiatric conditions. Findings suggest a potential causal link between other cataract types and anxiety, but not senile cataract and most mental health disorders.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Psychiatry
- Genetic Epidemiology
- Statistical Genetics
Background:
- Cataract, a leading cause of vision impairment, and psychiatric disorders represent significant global health burdens.
- The potential shared genetic underpinnings between cataract and psychiatric conditions remain largely unexplored.
- Understanding these genetic relationships is crucial for developing integrated treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential bidirectional genetic causality between various types of cataract (senile and other) and psychiatric disorders.
- To utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess genetic links, accounting for potential confounding factors.
- To differentiate the genetic associations of senile cataract versus other cataract types with mental health conditions.
Main Methods:
- A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data.
- Primary analyses employed inverse-variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods.
- Sensitivity analyses, including Cochran Q and MR-Egger intercept tests, were performed to evaluate heterogeneity and pleiotropy.
Main Results:
- A suggestive causal effect of other cataract on anxiety was observed (IVW OR=0.99, P=0.043), though not consistently supported across all methods.
- MR-Egger and weighted median methods indicated potential associations between other cataract and bipolar disorder (P<0.05).
- No significant genetic links were found between senile cataract and psychiatric disorders in either direction, with limited evidence for anxiety disorder influencing other cataract.
Conclusions:
- This study provides preliminary evidence for a potential causal relationship between other cataract types and anxiety, although findings were dependent on the specific MR method used.
- No significant genetic associations were identified between senile cataract and the investigated psychiatric disorders.
- Further research is warranted to confirm these method-dependent associations and elucidate the underlying genetic mechanisms.
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