Genetics of Alcohol Use Disorder National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

High levels of stress in the environment, a lack of family support and engagement, and peer pressure can make a person more susceptible to engaging in patterns of problematic drinking that can lead to alcoholism. No one specific gene can be definitively linked to alcoholism and addiction, as there are likely many different genes involved. They are passed down from our parents, and they help to determine personal characteristics – but we still have a long way to go when it comes to how they influence our personality. Getting DNA testing can show your ancestry, but it doesn’t determine your character. Family history can indeed contribute to the onset of alcoholism, but this is not the whole story. Environmental factors, personal metabolism and biological aspects, and social influences can all contribute to the development of the disorder.

This increased risk is likely due in part to shared genetic factors, but it may also be related to environment, lifestyle, and other nongenetic influences that are shared by members of a family. Family studies have consistently demonstrated that there is a substantial

genetic contribution to alcohol dependence. Over the past two decades, several genes

underlying susceptibility have been identified. Extensive study of the alcohol

metabolizing genes has demonstrated their important role in disease risk.

These factors may just make some people more likely to develop the condition. Environmental factors, as well as gene and environment interactions account for the remainder of the risk. Of the 930 genes found to be related to alcohol abuse, “the vast majority” are located in what are known as genetic regulatory regions, as opposed to coding regions. Genes within the regulatory region are inherited, and represent the ‘nature’ side of nature versus nurture. Genes within the coding region are the opposite, unique to the individual, and represent the ‘nurture’ side. What this means for family members of alcoholics is that you are not necessarily going to abuse alcohol yourself.

Excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts many health conditions, such as:

Genetics can mark you as more prone to use alcohol, tobacco products or drugs such as cocaine, heroin and opioids. You might also find it helpful to confide in a trusted loved one whose support can be instrumental in your recovery. You could also look for support groups online or in your area for people with substance use disorders. As one 2015 article in Nature points out, researchers have not been able to identify a single gene that determines whether or not you develop an addiction.

Nongenetic factors also play a critical role in alcohol use disorder. Factors that increase the risk of this condition include depression or other psychiatric disorders and certain psychological traits, including impulsivity and https://soberhome.net/ low self-esteem. Stress, associating with others who abuse alcohol, and having easy access to alcohol also contribute to a person’s risk. A study conducted by Arizona State University in Tempe analyzed 2,800 men and women.

GWAS of AUD and related traits

This study showed a genetic predisposition of 50 percent in male identical twins and 30 percent in female twins. It is still held that genetics accounts for about half of the risk of alcoholism. Environmental, behavioral, and social aspects are thought to account for the other half. A person is then less likely to resort to patterns of regular and problematic drinking. In this way, ADH1B and ALDH2 are hereditary factors that actually reduce the risk of developing alcoholism. Some underlying genetic issues can lead to alcoholism or increase the likelihood of drinking becoming a problem.

“A family history of AUD increases the risk of a biological child suffering from AUD. The inheritance is about 50%, ranging from 40% to 60%.” If you feel that you sometimes drink too much alcohol, or your drinking is causing problems, or if your family is concerned about your drinking, talk with your health care provider. Other ways to get help include talking with a mental health professional or seeking help from a support group such as Alcoholics Anonymous or a similar type of self-help group. Thinking of addiction as genetic begins with understanding that addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disorder.

• “The heritability of alcohol use disorder[…]nd adoption studies.” Psychological Medicine, August 29, 2014.
• “Men have an approximately two- to three-fold higher likelihood in developing AUD,” says Adinoff.
• However, even those with a high genetic risk to substance abuse must first be driven by a nonhereditary factor to do it.
• In the study of complex disorders, it has become apparent that quite

  large sample sizes are critical if robust association results are to be

  identified which replicate across studies.

Many of the existing genetic experiments examining substance abuse and addiction involve mice, which are bred to be good analogues of human genetics. However, there are few long-term studies that have conclusively linked specific genetic traits to humans who struggle with AUD. It is pretty well understood that high-stress environments and trauma are linked to alcohol use disorder, so appropriate therapy to manage these mental and behavioral conditions is extremely important. If your parents are alcoholics there is a higher chance of developing alcoholism because of genes passed down from your parents. Furthermore, being in an environment with alcoholics increases the chance of becoming alcohol dependent.

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For this reason, there is a general advisement that individuals “drink responsibly,” which means keeping intake to a manageable level. To use a legal standard, individuals could feasibly enjoy alcohol while being mindful to constantly keep their blood alcohol content (BAC) to below 0.08 percent. In other words, individuals are considered legally too drunk to drive if their BAC is 0.08 percent or higher. Many factors contribute, however, to a person becoming an alcoholic.

†Note that the official names of several ADH genes have been changed, and the

literature has been confused by some groups using non-standard names for some of

the genes29. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. High levels of dopamine can fuel poor impulse control and tilt someone toward addictive behaviors.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) publishes that about 16 million Americans struggle with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol is one of the most commonly consumed psychoactive substances in the world. It is, however, an addictive substance, and problematic use can lead to both alcohol dependence and the onset of alcoholism.

These are things that we can remain mindful of as we continue to develop an understanding of alcoholism on a personal basis. A study in Sweden followed alcohol use in twins who were adopted as children and reared apart. The incidence of alcoholism was slightly higher among people who were exposed to alcoholism only through their adoptive families. However, it was dramatically higher among the twins whose biological fathers were alcoholics, regardless of the presence of alcoholism in their adoptive families. Family, twin, and adoption studies have shown that alcoholism definitely has a genetic component. In 1990, Blum et al. proposed an association between the A1 allele of the DRD2 gene and alcoholism.

Alcohol metabolism and the risk for AUD

When it comes to feeling mentally and emotionally switched on, we have to have the correct brain chemistry – get it wrong and you will never achieve the feeling of wellbeing that you crave. When she is not working, she is probably shortening her life span eco sober house cost in some fun-filled manner. You can contact her via Twitter, which she intends to use professionally despite her username. Keep a drinking diary for a week and record how much you drank, what compelled you to drink, where you were, and who you were with.

Alcoholism Help

Again, just because a family member struggles with alcoholism does not mean it is inevitable that you also will. The risk of alcoholism is considered just as much environmental, social, and behavioral as it is genetic and heritable. Unlike many genetic disorders that are primarily caused by a single gene, “the inheritance of AUD is not due to a single gene,” says Adinoff. AUD is a complex genetic disease, and research shows that many genes can affect a person’s risk. Mutations of the GABRB1 gene can increase the risk of AUD, while the ADH1B and ALDH2 genes protect against it. This condition results from a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors, some of which have not been identified.

Remember: You are your own person

The topic of genetics and an alcohol use disorder only underlines the complexity of alcohol abuse. No one is immune from the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. As a rule of thumb, a person increases their risk of addiction to alcohol if they regularly consume a high volume of this drug.

Aside from genetics, environmental risk factors such as lack of parental supervision and mental illnesses can also increase the likelihood of developing AUD. Though genetic factors increase the risk of AUD, no one is guaranteed to develop it, even with a family history of alcohol misuse. In fact, genetics account for about half of all alcoholism cases. When someone comes from a family that has a history of alcoholism, hereditary genes increase the chances of a child becoming an alcoholic. These genes can come from one or both parents but don’t always lead to alcoholism.