Full Breakdown
Genetic Study Links Over a Thousand DNA Variants to Personality Traits
9/2/2026, 11:48:57 PM
Core Findings
An international consortium led by the Revived Genomics of Personality Consortium published a GWAS in *Nature* on the Big Five traits. The analysis combined data from 46 cohorts across 13-15 countries, covering roughly 1.14 million participants. Researchers identified 1,260 lead variants, 824 of which are new. Polygenic scores explained 4.8 %–10.6 % of individual differences, varying by trait.
Background & Context
Twin studies have long shown personality to be partly heritable, but specific genomic loci remained unknown. This GWAS used a million-plus DNA samples to pinpoint variants beyond twin-based estimates.
Data & Statistics
- Sample size: ~1.14 million
- Cohorts: 46, 13-15 countries
- Lead variants: 1,260 (824 novel)
- Variance explained: 4.8 %–10.6 %
- Trait links: extraversion with higher early-pandemic COVID-19 infection risk; conscientiousness with lower BMI, reduced smoking, fewer hospital admissions; openness with increased risk of psychopathology.
Official Statements & Responses
Michel Nivard, professor of genetic epidemiology at the University of Bristol, noted that each variant has a microscopic effect— the most influential extraversion variant shifts standing by about 0.35 percentile points. He stressed that genetic scores are useful only when averaged across large groups, not for predicting any single person’s traits. Elliot Tucker-Drob (University of Texas at Austin) highlighted consistent effects across geography, age and measurement tools, while acknowledging cultural limits of the Big Five.
Implications for Health and Behavior
Cross-trait analyses showed genetic overlap between personality and health outcomes. Extraversion variants predicted higher COVID-19 infection risk, likely reflecting greater social contact. Conscientiousness variants were tied to lower smoking rates and BMI, suggesting a pathway to healthier lifestyles. Neuroticism variants correlated with longer hospital stays, indicating potential clinical relevance.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Estimates of variance explained differ: ScienceAlert 7.4 %–10.6 %, TheConversation 5 %–16 %, and El Pais 4.8 %–9.3 %. The spread reflects methodological and cohort differences, and no single figure is definitive. Agreeableness showed weaker, culturally variable correlations, underscoring the need for broader validation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “In a way we knew that we'd find many variants, which also means that the individual variants have very, very small effects on personality,” — Michel Nivard
- “I would hate for people to come away thinking that genetics set their personality in stone, or that their individual personality is measurable via their genome,” — Michel Nivard
