Stuttering related to 57 genetic regions

What if the reason for stuttering is not trauma, stress or bad parenting, but something written in our DNA? A large-scale new genetic study of 1.1 million people reveals 57 genomic regions associated with stuttering, confirming the deep biological roots of the world’s most common speech disorder.

Published on July 28 Natural GeneticsThis study provides the clearest genetic portrait of stuttering and its connection to brain development, rhythm perception, autism and even depression.

Common diseases of mysterious origin

More than 400 million people worldwide suffer from the effects of stuttering, a disease characterized by repeated syllables, drawn sounds or pauses between words. Despite its prevalence, the underlying reasons remain elusive. Part of this is that speech disorders do not usually lead to hospitalization, thus attracting less research funding and attention.

“No one really understands why someone is getting married; it’s a complete mystery,” said Dr. Jennifer Piper, the lead author of the study and director of the Vanderbilt Institute for Genetics. “They delve into it because they don’t put people in hospitals, but they can have huge consequences for people’s quality of life.”

The largest genetic study of stuttering to date

Below, her team analyzed genetic data from nearly 100,000 adults who self-reported in the history of 23 AndMe, as well as over 1 million control participants. The team found:

• 57 Different genetic loci related to stuttering
• 48 genes involved in these regions
• Genetic signals shared with autism, depression, and music rhythm perception
• Gender-specific genetic patterns, especially between long-lasting stuttering men and women who recover regularly

Especially a gene VRK2,stand out. It is associated not only with stuttering, but also with synchronism (the ability to keep music for time) and with the language decline in Alzheimer’s disease. This overlap suggests the common brain mechanism behind speech, rhythm and communication.

Not just a voice problem

These findings may help eliminate misinformation for centuries. “There are hundreds of years of misunderstandings from the idea of left-handed to childhood trauma to domineering mothers,” says the following. “Our research shows that stuttering is influenced by our genes.”

Stuttering is not just a matter of speech. It often brings social and emotional harm, including bullying in childhood and stigma in adulthood. People who stutter may face reduced classroom participation, limited job opportunities and a higher risk of depression. The new study confirms the genetic correlation between stuttering and depression, especially among women and between autism and ADHD.

Why linking rhythm and recovery

Another amazing discovery is the connection between stuttering and rhythm. Stumbling people often have difficulty maintaining rhythm and synchronizing the metronome can reduce bursts. New genetic discoveries have been restored. It says below: “This supports the idea that the brain’s rhythmic processing structure may be shared with the way we speak.”

Interestingly, sex is important. Males and women have different genetic signals to stutter. This coincides with the fact that while young boys and girls stutter at a similar rate, girls are more likely to recover. The researchers believe that these differences may be related to durability and recovering stuttering and plan to explore them further.

Tools for future filtering and support

To validate their findings, the team applied the polygenic risk score (estimation of probability of stuttering) to two independent data sets. These models predict that men stutter better than women, probably because persistent stuttering is more common in men and more easily found in adults.

Although these scores are not ready for clinical use, they provide the foundation for future screening tools and earlier interventions. It is said below: “We need to understand the risk factors of pronunciation and language characteristics so that we can identify the child early and provide appropriate care for the person we want.”

Change the conversation around stuttering

The authors hope this study will help reduce the stigma around stuttering. It is said below: “ Rather than being caused by personal or family failure or intelligence, our research shows that stuttering is influenced by our genes.”

For Dillon Pruett, co-author and postdoctoral fellow, the work is personal. “There are a lot of unresolved questions about stuttering, and as someone’s impact, I want to contribute to this research,” he said.

These findings do not point to a “stuttering gene”, but reveal a complex genetic landscape formed by many factors. They provide not only biological insights, but also social understanding of the shift in conditions that influence speech, identity, and connection.

Diary and doi

Magazine: Natural Genetics
doi: 10.1038/s41588-025-02267-2

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