A Rosetrees funded project in partnership with MQ has found a genetic link between eating disorders and suicidal ideation.

Eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder are more than just struggles with food and body image. They carry serious medical and psychological risks. Among these risks, mortality, especially suicide, stands out. Eating disorders have some of the highest mortality rates among psychiatric conditions, with a significant portion of deaths attributed to suicide. But why do these conditions and suicidal ideation so often go hand in hand?

A  recent MQ funded study supported by Rosetrees sheds light on this important research topic. Using data from around 20,000 participants in the NIHR Mental Health BioResource COVID-19 Psychiatry and Neurological Genetics, the study team explored the genetic overlap between eating disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation. Their findings move us closer to understanding how shared biological factors contribute to both.

More details can be found here on the MQ website.