Is Crohn’s Disease Hereditary? Is Crohn's Caused By Genetics?

When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, one of the first questions I had (after what the hell is happening to my body) was, “Is this something I inherited from my family?” I knew that autoimmune diseases could run in families, but no one in mine had Crohn’s that I knew of. So I went searching for answers.

After more than a decade of living with this disease, and managing to reach remission without biologics or surgery, I’ve learned a lot about how genetics, lifestyle, and environment all interact. Crohn’s can be hereditary, but there’s more to the story. Let me break it down.

If you’re reading this, you probably already know the basics. But just in case you’re still figuring things out, here’s the short version. Crohn’s is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the digestive tract. It can show up anywhere from the mouth to the anus but usually hits the small intestine and beginning of the colon.

For me, it started with urgency, mucus, bleeding, and fatigue that just would not quit. I had flares where I couldn’t leave the house and had to plan my day around bathrooms. Crohn’s looks a little different for everyone, but it always disrupts your life.

Yes, Crohn’s disease can be hereditary. If someone in your immediate family has it, your chances of developing it go up. But that’s not the whole story.

Roughly 15 to 20 percent of people with Crohn’s have a first-degree relative with IBD. That means the majority of people, including myself, are the first in their family to be diagnosed. Family history matters, but it’s not the only piece of the puzzle.

Crohn’s isn’t passed down like eye color. It’s not a single gene disorder. Scientists have identified more than 200 genetic variants that seem to increase risk. The most well-known one is called NOD2, also known as CARD15.

These genes don’t directly cause Crohn’s. They change how your immune system behaves, especially when it encounters bacteria in the gut. In people with certain mutations, the immune system tends to overreact. That overreaction leads to inflammation. That definitely matches my experience. My immune system felt like it was fighting a ghost that wouldn’t go away.

If Crohn’s is in your family, you’re more likely to get it. Studies show that if both parents have IBD, their child’s risk can be as high as 35 percent. Even one parent with Crohn’s can increase the risk significantly.

But here’s where it gets tricky. Families share more than genes. We often eat the same foods, live in similar environments, and experience similar stressors. So how much of the risk is genetic and how much is environmental? It’s hard to say. In my case, there was no family history, but I did grow up eating lots of processed foods and dealing with a lot of stress.

Ethnicity plays a role too. People of Ashkenazi Jewish descent have significantly higher rates of Crohn’s. Some of the most common IBD-related gene mutations are more prevalent in that population.

Crohn’s was once considered a “Western” disease, mostly affecting people in the US and Europe. But cases are rising in Asia, the Middle East, and South America. That shift suggests the environment plays just as big of a role as genetics. Something about modern lifestyles is making this disease more common around the world.

This is where things started to shift for me. Once I realized genetics weren’t the full explanation, I focused on the things I could change. That made a huge difference.

I found that food, stress, and sleep made or broke my symptoms. I cut out dairy, gluten, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and processed oils. I cleaned up my personal care products and filtered my water. I started using targeted supplements and drinking bone broth daily. That eventually led to the creation of GutMellow, which includes everything I did to calm inflammation and reach remission.

For me, healing came from removing what was harming my gut and giving it what it needed to recover. Genetics played a role, but the changes I made were what really moved the needle.

You can test for genes like NOD2, but it won’t give you a clear answer. Having the gene doesn’t mean you’ll get Crohn’s. Not having it doesn’t mean you’re safe.

I looked into testing once, hoping it would tell me something useful. It didn’t. The information wasn’t actionable. Doctors don’t use genetic testing to diagnose or predict Crohn’s because it’s not that simple.

Researchers are working on polygenic risk scores that combine multiple genes into a kind of Crohn’s risk profile. But those aren’t available for everyday use yet. They’re still experimental.

I’ve thought a lot about this. I don’t have kids yet, but I wonder how this diagnosis might affect them someday. Having Crohn’s doesn’t mean your children or siblings will get it, but the risk is higher than average.

For me, it’s just something to be aware of. If someone close to me started showing signs like gut pain, bleeding, or extreme fatigue, I’d probably encourage them to pay attention and talk to a doctor. But I wouldn’t live in fear of it either. Most relatives of people with Crohn’s don’t end up with the disease themselves.

Some research suggests people with a family history may develop Crohn’s earlier or have more complications. But that hasn’t been consistent in my experience. My case has had some tough years and some surprisingly calm ones. It hasn’t followed any predictable pattern.

I’ve learned that severity has more to do with how I treat my body than what my genes say. Diet, stress, sleep, and environment seem to have a much bigger influence over time.

If Crohn’s runs in your family, or if you’re the one with it and you’re wondering about your kids or siblings, it’s worth bringing up. I’ve had a few conversations like that with my doctor, but they were pretty low-key. The focus was mostly on my symptoms and treatment.

If you’re worried, you can ask whether it makes sense to screen close relatives or look into a referral. But usually, doctors only act if symptoms show up. Family history is one part of the story, not the whole thing.

Can Crohn’s skip a generation?
Yes. It’s a complex disease that doesn’t follow a predictable pattern.

Is Crohn’s dominant or recessive?
Neither. It involves multiple genes and outside factors, not a single inheritance pattern.

What percent of Crohn’s cases are inherited?
About 15 to 20 percent of people with Crohn’s have a first-degree relative with IBD.

Is ulcerative colitis hereditary too?
Yes. Crohns Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis have their own genetic and environmental risk factors, but the overlap is real.

Is there a cure for genetic Crohn’s?
There’s no cure yet. But remission is possible. I’m living proof of that. My protocol is laid out inside the GutMellow Remission Roadmap, which includes everything I did to get my gut under control naturally.

So, is Crohn’s disease hereditary? Yes, partly. Your genes can increase your risk. But they don’t seal your fate.

In my case, there may have been some genetic predisposition, but the real transformation happened when I changed how I lived. I cleaned up my diet, minimized stress, and gave my gut a chance to heal. That was when everything shifted.

I created GutMellow to help others find their own version of that shift. It’s the system I wish I had when I was first diagnosed — a step-by-step guide built from real-life trial and error.

You can’t change your genes, but you can change how you live. And in my experience, that makes all the difference.

After a decade of trial and error, I finally found a combination of strategies that actually worked. I went from constant flare-ups to long-term remission, without biologics or surgery. I created GutMellow to share my experience and help others navigate their own healing journey.

The GutMellow Remission Roadmap includes everything I wish I had when I was first diagnosed. It’s a comprehensive resource that outlines the exact steps I took to regain control of my gut health, including:

This blog is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. While I am sharing my personal experience, every individual’s health journey is unique. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or lifestyle. Healing is a personal journey, and what worked for me may not work for everyone.