Drinking during pregnancy may harm the child’s health, and drunk driving increases the risk of traffic accidents. Physical effects include irregular heartbeat, impaired immune response, cirrhosis, increased cancer risk, and severe withdrawal symptoms if stopped suddenly. Future studies should leverage these resources to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and other large-scale genomic analyses. This information can guide treatment decisions and interventions, such as medication selection and dosage adjustments, to ensure the most effective and safe detoxification process.
While science has made incredible progress in identifying the genetic factors linked to alcohol use disorder, the message is ultimately one of hope. Now, research has gone deeper—right into the genetic blueprint—to pinpoint specific genes linked to alcohol dependence. Okay, so genetics play a role in how people process alcohol.
Genetic Variations and Alcohol Metabolism
Alcoholism can impact multiple generations, but the cycle isn’t inevitable. Psychological and behavioral signs of risk Here’s how one can assess the likelihood of developing AUD.
- Natural selection favoring primates attracted to alcohol, even if the benefits were not direct, is one hypothesis for why some people are more susceptible to alcoholism than others.
- Future research should aim to increase statistical power, expand the study populations to encompass diverse groups, and thus refine our understanding of the mechanisms involved.
- Fifteen independent variants (after conditional analyses) in 10 loci were identified in multiple ancestries, including 10 in European, 2 in African, and 2 in Latin American ancestries.
- Additionally, understanding the genetic factors involved may help identify potential drug targets for developing new medications or therapies.
Fermented fruit consumption
Different variations of the ADH gene can result in variations in the enzymes produced, leading to differences in how alcohol is processed. It is estimated that around 15 million people in the United States alone struggle with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Fourth, the current EWASs are focused on tissue-level changes; performing cell type–specific epigenetic analyses (e.g., single-cell epigenome data, ref. 164) can provide deeper insight into the molecular mechanisms.
Genetic Factors Influencing the Development of Alcoholism – A Comprehensive Review
There’s no single gene that “causes” alcohol use disorder. One of the most important takeaways from current research is that genetics is just one piece of a very complex puzzle. On the flip side, people without these protective genetic variations—or with enzymes that process alcohol more slowly—may build up a higher tolerance over time. In fact, the way your body processes alcohol—and how your body tolerates it—is influenced by genes. Part of the answer lies in their genetics.
Assessing your risk
- Phenome-wide PRS analysis in the independent biobank BioVU confirmed the genetic correlations between PAU and substance use and psychiatric disorders.
- Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is under study for the treatment of patients with alcohol use disorder.
- While genetic factors play a significant role in the risk of alcoholism, it is important to recognize that the environment can either enhance or mitigate this risk.
- Studies show that individuals with these mental health challenges are two to three times more likely to develop substance use disorders often because alcohol is used as a form of self-medication.
- It is now appreciated that a whole spectrum of allele frequencies andeffect sizes may play roles, from common variations with small effects throughrare variants of large effect.
This means the majority of the risk remains unexplained by current genetic models, highlighting the influence of environmental factors. This means about half of the risk is attributable to genetic factors, indicating that alcohol problems often cluster within families due to inherited DNA. While genetics, family history, and environment all play a role, they do not define your future.
Alateen (Al-Anon for Teens): Support for Teens in Alcoholic Families
This genetic component is often referred to as genetic inheritance or the heritability of alcoholism. Understanding an individual’s genetic makeup can help inform personalized treatment plans, improving the effectiveness of interventions. Research has revealed that alcoholism can run in families, suggesting a genetic component to its development. Understanding an individual’s genetic predisposition can help healthcare providers personalize treatment plans and increase the chances of successful recovery.
Additionally, knowledge of specific genetic variations can help tailor treatment approaches and medications to better address an individual’s unique needs. It is important to note that genetic variations only contribute to a predisposition to alcoholism. Certain variations of the ALDH gene result in slower acetaldehyde breakdown, leading to a higher risk of alcoholism. Some variations of the ADH gene produce enzymes that metabolize alcohol more quickly, resulting in a lower risk of alcoholism. These genes can affect the way a person metabolizes alcohol or how alcohol affects the brain, making them more vulnerable to addiction.
Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS)
According to a review from 2016, genes that promote alcohol metabolism and the production of enzymes, such as alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase, can be protective against AUD. No single gene or genetic variant is solely responsible for AUD risk. According to the DSM-5-TR, the more relatives you have living with AUD and the closer they are to you in relation, the higher your individual genetic risk becomes. Studies have been complicated by the difficulty indisentangling these effects, and by the fact that many variants among theADH genes are in significant linkage disequilibrium (at leastpartially co-inherited). Butamong those who drink heavily despite this, the same genes may increase cancer riskby increasing levels of acetaldehyde in the tissues29, 80, 82-86.
As genetic testing becomes more available, understanding the connection between DNA and AUD risk is a practical concern. If you’ve recognized some risk factors in your own life or within your family, know that you are not alone, and help is available. Studies show that individuals with these mental health challenges are two to three times more likely to develop substance use disorders often because alcohol is used as a form of self-medication.
Protective Factors Against Alcohol Use Disorder
Genetic variants in ADH1B can cause the first step to happen too quickly, while variants in ALDH2 cause the second step to be slow or inefficient. In the first step of metabolism, alcohol dehydrogenase converts ethanol into acetaldehyde, a toxic compound. Genetic testing for AUD involves analyzing specific variations within an individual’s DNA sequence. With the right support, treatment, and tools, healing is not just possible—it’s well within reach. It’s about empowering yourself and your family. If you or someone you care about is using alcohol as a way to manage stress or emotions, know that support and healthier solutions are available.
Alcohol use monitoring (both by self report or by biomarkers) is very important to the success of treatment of alcohol misuse. Electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities including hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hyponatremia, hyperuricemia, metabolic acidosis, and respiratory alkalosis are common in people with alcohol use disorders. GGT levels remain persistently elevated for many weeks with continued drinking, with a half life of 2–3 weeks, making the GGT level a useful assessment of continued and chronic alcohol use. But levels of GGT are elevated in only half of men with alcohol use disorder, and it is less commonly elevated in women and younger people.
Additionally, heavy drinking over time has been found to have a negative effect on reproductive functioning in women. Examples of long-term complications include brain, heart, and liver damage and an increased risk of breast cancer. A wide range of immunologic defects can result and there may be a generalized skeletal fragility, in addition to a recognized tendency to accidental injury, resulting in a propensity for bone fractures. Damage to the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system can occur from sustained alcohol consumption. Long-term alcohol misuse can cause a number of physical symptoms, including cirrhosis of the liver, pancreatitis, epilepsy, polyneuropathy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, peptic ulcers and sexual dysfunction, and can eventually be fatal. Alcoholism reduces a person’s life expectancy by around ten years and alcohol use is the third leading cause of early death in the United States.
Men tendto drink more heavily and more frequently than women, putting them at higher risk Genetics and alcoholism ofdisease and death.
Thedifficulties of genetic studies are compounded by environmental heterogeneity inaccess to alcohol and social norms related to drinking. The ability togenetically select for these traits demonstrates that there are genetic bases forthem, and that different genes contribute to different aspects of the phenotype.Taken together, there is overwhelming evidence that genetic variations contribute tothe risk for alcohol dependence. Alcohol dependence (alcoholism), the most severe alcohol use disorder, is acomplex genetic disease. Studies arerevealing other genes in which variants impact risk for alcoholism or relatedtraits, including GABRA2, CHRM2,KCNJ6, and AUTS2. Abundant evidence indicates thatalcoholism is a complex genetic disease, with variations in a large number ofgenes affecting risk. Convergence of findings at the sub-threshold level with previous findings in genetic studies of addictions suggested that the intermediate phenotype approach can potentially identify genes that have a general effect on addiction even in datasets of modest size, notably of population isolates .
Genetic testing can help identify individuals who are at a higher risk and tailor interventions accordingly. For example, certain variations in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) have been linked to a higher susceptibility to depression and anxiety disorders. Environmental factors, personal behavior, and individual circumstances also play a significant role. By creating a supportive and understanding environment, individuals may be less inclined to turn to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Antisocial personality disorder has been referred to as the most important risk factor for alcoholism. While it might be true that genetic factors contribute significantly to AUD risk, they do not determine your fate. Environmental risk factors that exacerbate genetic risk
Although these studies have provided valuable insights, challenges and gaps in our comprehension persist, emphasizing the need for continued research and exploration incorporating larger samples with deeper phenotyping in more diverse populations. MicroRNA (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate target mRNA expression and/or translation, with important roles in a variety of biological processes (158). Besides studies of DNA methylation for AUD, limited studies of noncoding RNAs and histone modifications in the human brain have been conducted. This represents the first exploration of cell type–specific methylation for AUD in blood and considers the role of brain hydroxymethylation in AUD (157).
No Comment