A recent study due to be published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics Part B (Neuropsychiatric Genetics) has investigated the human genome in order to identify genetic factors which lead to alcoholism and also to find what individuals are more likely to develop an addiction to alcohol.

Experts at the Molecular Neurobiology Branch of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, looked for genetic flaws and differences to appear in people at higher risk from becoming alcoholics as compared to people who are not likely to develop a preference for alcoholic drinks.

The study is considered to be the most ample and complete study carried out on alcoholism and its genetic key-factors. "Tools such as pooled data genome scanning give us a completely new way of looking at complex biological processes, such as addiction. The ability to pinpoint genes in the human genome responsible for disease has the potential to revolutionize our ability to treat and even prevent diseases," pointed out Dr. Elias A. Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health.
NIDA Director, Dr. Nora D. Volkow, added: "Previous studies established that alcoholism runs in families, but this research has given us the most extensive catalogue yet of the genetic variations that may contribute to the hereditary nature of this disease. We now have new tools that will allow us to better understand the physiological foundation of addiction."

The team found that the most genetic variations involved in alcohol addiction are related to the 51 defined chromosomal regions. Many of the genes identified as possible key-factors to cause alcoholism have already been mentioned by previous studies to be closely linked to alcoholism or other types of addictions. Also, the suspected genes are involved in many key-activities taking place in our organism - from regulating the development and cell-to-cell interactions and communication to controlling the protein synthesis. One of the main genes supposed to influence alcohol addiction in people is the AIP1 gene, a disease-related gene found mainly in the brain.

"The observations from this study provide a graphic display of the close relationships between genetic vulnerability to alcoholism and genetic vulnerability to other addictions. Ongoing and future studies will help us to identify how the variations in these candidate genes contribute to differences in addiction vulnerability," concluded lead researcher Dr. George Uhl.