Content
Accumulating evidence indicates that variations in numerous other genes have smaller but measurable effects. Analyses of 987 people from 105 families in the initial sample provided evidence that regions on 3 chromosomes contained genes that increase the risk for alcoholism (Reich et al. 1998). The strongest evidence was for regions on chromosomes 1 and 7, with more modest evidence for a region on chromosome 2.
One class of these receptors, known as GABAA, is made of protein subunits arrayed around a channel that admits chloride ions into the cell. Variations in the GABRA2 gene, which encodes one of the GABAA receptor subunits, have been found to strongly influence an EEG endophenotype, known as the beta frequency, that appears to play a role in mediating neuronal disinhibition. Foroud and colleagues (2000) also analyzed the combined data set from the initial and replication samples using a more restricted definition of alcoholism as specified in the ICD–10. The region on chromosome 1 provided the strongest evidence for a susceptibility gene in the combined sample. In addition, this new evaluation detected a region on chromosome 8 that was linked with the risk for alcoholism. Research has suggested that it’s a combination of the above risk factors as well as genetics that could determine whether or not you develop alcohol use disorder.
EARLY MOLECULAR GENETICS STUDIES
Genes play a significant role in our overall health and risk of developing many health conditions. Currently little is fully understood about how our genes directly contribute to alcohol use disorder, but there is is alcoholism inherited for sure a correlation. Genes can also play a role in the type of treatment we need to overcome alcoholism. Understanding this better can help someone get the type of treatment they need to overcome alcoholism.
- The recent genetic findings related to alcoholism may also suggest ways to improve the prevention and treatment of smoking and other forms of substance dependence that are frequently seen in people with alcohol problems and tend to cluster in the same families.
- If drinking alcohol makes you feel ill, you may be more likely to avoid alcohol in the first place, which can reduce the chances of developing alcohol use disorder.
ADS is caused by variations in several genes that influence the way alcohol is metabolized and is linked to an increased craving for alcohol, higher levels of tolerance as well as an increased risk of physical dependence. This is why some people can drink more than others without experiencing any negative effects. Genes are not destiny, and genetic factors aren’t the only things that play a role in the formation of alcohol use disorders. Every individual reacts to stress uniquely, influenced by environmental factors and genetic predisposition. Those immersed in high-stress occupations or environments often tend to heavy alcohol consumption, more so than those in less stressful situations. In regions where alcohol is either prohibitively expensive or challenging to procure, there’s a noticeable reduction in alcohol problems and misuse.
Is Alcoholism Genetic?
There are also behavioral genes passed down that could influence a propensity for alcoholism. Mental illnesses, such as depression and schizophrenia, are more common in people with a family history of these disorders. People with mental illness have a higher risk of turning to substance abuse as a way of coping. Mental disorders can be hereditary (and environmental), which partially illuminates the complex link between genetics and addiction.
- Many datasets, including the one used in the study, rely heavily on individuals with European ancestry.
- Sanchez-Roige explained that variants, or alleles, of these particular SNPs are “protective” against a variety of alcohol behaviors, from excessive alcohol drinking to alcohol use disorder.
- Substance abuse treatment usually involves a comprehensive approach that combines medical and psychosocial interventions.
- Some of these candidate genes encode components of various brain chemical systems that allow communication among nerve cells.
- Aside from risk factors, there are also positive “protective” factors that make a person less susceptible to alcohol addiction.
- The home environment, particularly during formative years, can significantly influence one’s relationship with alcohol.
- As noted above, the functional ADH1B polymorphism isnot represented on GWAS platforms; GABA-receptor genes are often nominallysignificant but well below genome-wide significance in these studies.
Interestingly, these variations in GABRA2 do not change the protein structure of the GABAA receptor; instead they seem to modify production of the affected protein subunit, perhaps reducing the total number of functioning receptors. People are also complex and manifest problems with alcohol in diverse ways, especially in the early stages of disease, although cases come to resemble one another clinically in the later stages of illness. Thus, when investigating the biology of alcoholism, researchers must carefully define the problem–for example, distinguishing between true dependence on alcohol and alcohol abuse, which is a less medically severe syndrome. Finding the genes involved in our responses to alcohol and understanding their effects may thus illuminate a broader array of conditions, too. Revealing the biological processes that can build and reinforce alcohol addiction will most certainly help to better target existing treatments and devise new ones to break alcohol’s hold. Environmental factors also account for the risk of alcohol and drug abuse.2 Scientists are learning more about how epigenetics affect our risk of developing AUD.
Get the Help You Need to Overcome Alcohol Addiction!
COGA researchers have also analyzed candidate genes—genes suspected to play a role in the development of alcoholism based on other studies. Some of these candidate genes encode components of various brain chemical systems that allow communication among nerve cells. Two of these genes are the dopamine D2 receptor gene (DRD2) and a serotonin transporter gene (HTT). However, the analyses found no evidence that DRD2 affected the risk for alcoholism (Edenberg et al. 1998a) or that HTT was linked to either alcoholism in general or to a more severe form of alcoholism (Edenberg et al. 1998b).
The strong effects of binge drinking suggest that merelycalculating an average number of drinks per week is likely to obscure many effectsof alcohol, since it treats 2 standard drinks per day (14 per week) the same as 7drinks on each of two days per week. Different combinations of genes may come together to predispose you to an AUD, even if addiction of any kind is rare on either side of your family tree. This distinction is important when discussing https://ecosoberhouse.com/ your risk of becoming an alcoholic. By staying informed, seeking alcohol treatment when necessary, and leveraging resources from institutions like the NIAAA, individuals can chart a path toward recovery and resilience. Data suggests that individuals hailing from families with an annual household income surpassing $75,000 face a higher susceptibility to becoming an alcoholic in comparison to their counterparts from economically modest backgrounds.