Genomic copy number variants contribute to cognitive impairment in the UK

Genetic alterations of rare deletions or duplications of small DNA segments, called copy number variants (CNVs), have been known to increase risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and intellectual disability. Now, a new study reports that even in the absence of a disorder, people carrying a CNV associated with these disorders may have impaired cognition.