Addressing the ethical and societal challenges posed by genome-wide association studies of behavioral and brain-related traits

Genome-wide association studies for brain and behavioral traits have provided insights but also present challenges related to privacy and misuse. We discuss these ethical issues and how to mitigate potential negative consequences. Genome-wide association studies have led to the identification of robust statistical associations of genetic variants with numerous brain-related traits, including neurological and psychiatric conditions, and psychological and behavioral measures. These results may provide insight into the biology underlying these traits and may facilitate clinically useful predictions. However, these results also carry the risk of harm, including possible negative effects of inaccurate predictions, violations of privacy, stigma and genomic discrimination, raising serious ethical and legal implications. Here, we discuss ethical concerns surrounding the results of genome-wide association studies for individuals, society and researchers. Given the success of genome-wide association studies and the increasing availability of nonclinical genomic prediction technologies, better laws and guidelines are urgently needed to regulate the storage, processing and responsible use of genetic data. Also, researchers should be aware of possible misuse of their results, and we provide guidance to help avoid such negative impacts on individuals and society.

Automated summary

Genome-wide association studies have provided valuable insights into brain and behavioral traits, but they also raise ethical concerns regarding privacy and misuse. Better regulation and guidelines are needed to ensure responsible use of genetic data, and researchers should be cautious about the potential negative impacts of their findings.