Genes hold the information to build and maintain an organism’s cells and pass genetic traits to offspring. A significant advance in understanding the role of genetics in addiction occurred in 1990 when researchers linked the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2 gene) to severe alcoholism. Subsequent studies have linked the A1 variation of the DRD2 gene to other addictions including, cocaine, amphetamine, heroin, and nicotine.These studies suggest that people with this genetic trait are much more susceptible to addiction.
A specific gene variant may play a role in one’s ability to regulate alcohol consumption and help explain why some individuals are more susceptible to alcoholism or excessive drinking than others, according to a new British study.
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A new study discovered a mutation in a mouse gene that could lead to new understanding of alcoholism and genetics. Researchers from the Ernest Gallo Clinic and Research Center and the University of California, San Francisco, found that mice with the mutant gene were significantly more sensitive to alcohol than their normal littermates, and consumed [...]
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When a loved one seems to be struggling under an alcohol use disorder, their family and friends often have difficulty determining whether there is an actual problem that requires addressing. There are often many factors that play into the minds of people watching someone who may have an alcohol problem.
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When some people drink alcohol, the neurotransmitter dopamine is released in the brain, which leads to feelings of euphoria and can contribute to alcohol cravings and dependency. But alcohol doesn’t affect everyone in the same way–some people can drink occasionally and not become dependent, whereas others can become almost immediately hooked.
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While previous twin studies have consistently shown the importance of genetic influences on various measures of alcohol consumption, a full diagnostic assessment can be complicated and lengthy. This has led some researchers to wonder: To what extent do measures of alcohol consumption accurately index the genetic risk for alcohol dependence (AD)?
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New research pinpoints genetic pathways and genes that are associated with levels of alcohol consumption but not with alcohol dependence. This means that your genetic makeup may predispose you to drink more, but may not increase your genetic risk for alcoholism.
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One of the toughest circumstances to overcome is to grow up in a family where alcoholism is a daily nightmare. It doesn’t matter that you hide it from your friends or that you tell yourself that lots of families have this problem. The truth is that you aren’t really hiding your family’s problems with alcohol [...]
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