Author: Gary Jackson

Genetics Of Alcoholism: Hereditary Factors Of Alcohol Use

In addition, religious background and culture may also play a role in a person’s decision-making. However, a crucial disclaimer is that these markers don’t guarantee one will become a heavy drinker. The National Institute on Drug Abuse highlights a potential overlap between genes related to alcoholism and opioid misuse.

Is Addiction Hereditary?

The world around you also can play a significant role in opening a door that leads to problematic substance use, notes Dr. Anand. Peer pressure is also an essential factor, especially with adolescents. If an adolescent’s friends drink heavily, they are more likely to drink to conform.

“Those biological insights are critical to potentially developing better strategies for prevention and treatment of alcoholism and related psychiatric disorders,” he said. “In fact, using this questionnaire in a population not ascertained for alcohol use disorders we have been able to achieve the largest sample size even obtained in the field of alcohol use disorders,” said Sanchez Roige. Our hereditary behaviors interact with our environment to form the basis of our decisions. Some people are more sensitive to stress, making it harder to cope with an unhealthy relationship or a fast-paced job. Some people experience a traumatizing event and turn to alcohol to self-medicate.

Is Alcoholism Genetic? Understanding the Genetics of Alcoholism

If you or a loved one has a high risk for alcohol addiction, knowing the early warning signs of dependence helps. For instance, the ADH1B gene, commonly studied in association studies, has been linked to the brain’s reward pathways. Additionally, researchers like Edenberg and Gelernter have explored how genetic variations might influence neurotransmitters like GABA, providing insights into the complex interplay between our genes, our brain, and our behaviors. This suggests that while a family history of alcoholism can increase susceptibility, it doesn’t dictate destiny. These findings suggest that it’s not just a single gene defect but a combination of genes that predispose individuals to alcoholism. Alcohol use disorder, more commonly known as alcoholism, is characterized by an inability to control ones drinking because of a physical or emotional dependence of alcohol.

Alcohol Misuse Is Influenced by Environmental and Genetic Factors

Mental disorders can be hereditary (and environmental), which partially illuminates the complex link between genetics and addiction. Compared to other genetic predictors, the genomic pattern identified here was also a more sensitive predictor of having two or more substance use disorders at once. The genomic pattern linked to general addiction risk also predicted higher risk of mental and physical illness, including psychiatric disorders, suicidal behavior, respiratory disease, heart disease, and chronic pain conditions. In children aged 9 or 10 years without any experience of substance use, these genes correlated with parental substance use and externalizing behavior.

Other NIDA Sites

In genetics, the concordance rate signifies the likelihood of two individuals with similar genes manifesting the same condition. Recent research from Indiana University has shed light on the significant role genes play in the development of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). What this means for family members of alcoholics is that you are not necessarily going to misuse alcohol yourself. Factors like your environment and ability to handle situations triggering dependency are just as important as genetics. These are things that we can remain mindful of as we continue to develop an understanding of alcoholism on a personal basis. The inclusion of data from different ancestral groups in this study cannot and should not be used to assign or categorize variable genetic risk for substance use disorder to specific populations.

Be Aware of the Early Signs of Alcohol Addiction

  1. Symptoms of fetal alcohol syndrome may include any mix of issues with how the body develops; thinking, learning and behavior; and functioning and coping in daily life.
  2. Recent genome-wide studies (GWAS) have pinpointed specific genetic variants linked to this predisposition.
  3. If you spend time around people who drink often or who don’t discourage heavy drinking, you may be more likely to develop alcoholism yourself.
  4. Drinking alcohol during this time can cause damage to how body parts develop.
  5. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that shows alcoholism has a genetic component.

Scientists and those in the medical field know there’s too much riding on the answer to this one question. Beyond that, Palmer and his team want to develop a better understand of how the genes they’ve identified might influence these traits, but using animal and cellular models. Mental illness increases the likelihood of developing alcoholism by 20% to 50%. Our DNA dictates our physical characteristics (such as eye color) and also our behavioral characteristics (such as aggression). “These genes are for risk, not for destiny,” stressed Dr. Enoch Gordis, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

This correlation hints at the intricate dance between neuroscience, genetics, and our environment in shaping our relationship with substances like alcohol. There are gene variations that could predispose a person to mental illnesses like depression and schizophrenia. People with mental illness are more prone to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism. In collaboration with a co-author from the University of Texas, the researchers took brain samples of deceased people who suffered from alcohol use disorder. They discovered those samples have lower GAT-3 in the amygdala as well.

Genetics Of Alcoholism

If you are pregnant and can’t stop drinking alcohol, ask your obstetrician, primary care doctor or other healthcare professional for help. A social worker can direct you to community programs that offer help, for example, Alcoholics Anonymous. Researchers from the IU Alcohol Research Center used animal models to explore the genetics of alcohol use disorder. Analyzing 3 billion DNA base pairs across 70 animals, they identified genes linked to drinking behaviors. While there are environmental and social factors that influence the risk for alcoholism, there is also a genetic component. Scientists have found that there is a 50% chance of being predisposed to alcohol use disorder (AUD) if your family has a history of alcohol misuse.

While genetics can account for up to 60% of AUD risk, not everyone with a family history of AUD will develop the condition. Just as risk factors increase your chance of experiencing a condition, protective factors lower your risk. Some protective factors, such as natural optimism, may remain fixed over time.