Khaberni - Scientists have identified 11 genetic regions linked to preferring immediate rewards over larger future rewards, and people with a genetic predisposition for impatience are associated with 212 different medical conditions.
These conditions include addiction, obesity, heart disease, and chronic pain, noting that environmental factors play a much more significant role than genes in the quick onset of impatience.
According to "Study Finds," the genetic relationship is not simple. While impatience is associated with ADHD, depression, and smoking, the opposite pattern is seen in cases like obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia, and schizophrenia, where individuals genetically prefer waiting for larger rewards.
By examining and analyzing data from nearly 135,000 people, the research team from the University of California identified 11 locations in human DNA associated with the trait of quick impatience, which they called "time discounting."
Genetics over willpower
The findings reveal that impatience is not just a personal trait or a matter of willpower, but is genetically based and has biological roots that are evident in many areas of mental and physical health.
Researchers asked participants to complete a simple questionnaire involving 27 different financial choices.
Those who consistently choose smaller immediate rewards over larger future ones show a "greater discounting."
Risk genes and body weight
The team identified several genetic regions associated with this behavior, where genes cluster in areas already known for their impact on risk-taking, intelligence, body weight, and psychological conditions.
Common genetic variations account for about 10% of the variance in how people value immediate versus delayed rewards.
While environmental factors play a major role, this genetic component remains constant throughout a person's life.
Genes shape the "now or later" decision
One key finding relates to chromosome 6, where a genetic variant is located between two genes previously linked to risk-taking, smoking, alcohol use, bipolar disorder, and body weight.
Another contact point on chromosome 16 contains 18 genes that influence brain development, intelligence, and eating behaviors. Disorders in this area have been linked to autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, and obesity.
The role of intelligence and education
Intelligence and education showed the strongest genetic overlap with large discounts. However, when researchers mathematically excluded these factors, 19 associations remained, including links to smoking, body weight, brain communication patterns, digestive disorders, and chronic pain.
Some genetic influences on impatience persist even after accounting for intelligence and education.
