Tag Archives: genetics

Genetics Play Role in Hangovers

Hangover is the widely used term for a collection of short-term side effects that can appear after a person consumes excessive amounts of alcohol. Previous research has shown that drinkers who frequently experience these side effects are more likely to eventually receive a diagnosis for alcohol use disorder (alcohol abuse/alcoholism) than drinkers who typically don’t […]

Common Genetic Variation Big Risk Factor for Alcoholism, Mental Illness

Researchers and addiction specialists are well aware that genetic factors play an important role in any given person’s chances of developing a physical dependence on alcohol (i.e., alcoholism). However, the factors involved are complex, and no one fully understands all of the specific genetic combinations that can increase your risk. In a study published in […]

Is a Genetic Test for Alcoholism Too Good to Be True?

The authors of a study published in May 2014 in the journal Translational Psychiatry are optimistic that they have identified a number of gene variations that could be used to predict who is at greatest risk for alcoholism. The researchers, led by a team at the Indiana University School of Medicine, identified a group of […]

Long Arm of PTSD Haunts Children of Vets

Her father’s despair seeped into every waking moment, poisoning the family. By age 5, Christal Presley routinely barricaded her dresser against her bedroom door. He could go from fetal position to fury. “I’m going to the river, and I won’t be back!” he would yell, grabbing a gun. “For the first two years of that, […]

Born to Drink: Alcoholism and Genetics

The links between alcoholism, genetics and family history are not easy to understand. What we know for sure, though, is that there is a connection. This does not mean that if you had an alcoholic parent, or if both of your parents suffered from alcoholism, that you are destined to become one as well. It […]

Risky Alcohol Use in Teens: It’s Nature and Nurture

It’s a well-known fact that alcoholism runs in families, and for years scientists have been trying to single out which genes and which environments have the greatest impact on alcohol dependence. Recently, certain genes have been identified, but alcoholism is a complex condition that involves an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. One interaction that […]

Adolescent Binge Drinking Linked to Gene Variation and Emotional Drinking

A new study by researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands examines why some adolescents binge drink frequently and whether there is a possible association with genetics. Although many adolescents drink alcohol, drinking large amounts of alcohol frequently (binge drinking) may indicate a deeper problem.

Gene Could Be Underlying Cause of Depression, Study Finds

A gene called MKP-1 appears to play an important role in the development of depression, and could be a target for a new class of anti-depressants, according to researchers from Yale University. Ronald S. Duman, senior author of the study and professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at Yale, said that the gene could be a […]

Study Examines Role Chromosome 11 Plays in Alcohol Dependency

Alcohol dependency is an element of life worth researching to empower professionals to identify risk factors and proper prevention tools. Recent research by the Indiana University School of Medicine and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism notes that chromosome 11 could be partially responsible for alcohol dependency. This genome-wide association study was part […]

Study Finds Genetic Mutations Associated with Suicide Risk among Depressed Patients

A new report reveals that single mutations in genes involved with nerve cell formation and growth appear to be associated with the risk of attempting suicide among individuals with depression. The study will appear in the April print issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Study Identifies Hormone as Culprit in Alcohol Overindulgence

Is it possible that overeating and indulging in the intoxication of alcohol could be blamed on a hormone? According to a recent study published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the hormone gherlin may be responsible for the overindulgence in alcohol. The study included trials on mice who were injected with gherlin, […]

Researchers Identify Gene Deletion that Leads to Learning and Behavior Issues

When an individual has challenges in their learning and behavior, parents and doctors usually want to know why. Now, a consortium of researchers led by Baylor College of Medicine in a report said that the loss of a gene through deletion of genetic material on chromosome 15 is associated with significant abnormalities in learning and […]

Genetics Can Determine Why Adolescents Drink

A person’s background and family history have a lot to do with whether or not they will deal with an alcohol problem at any time in their lives. A number of studies into the association between alcoholism and genes have been conducted on adults. Now, a new study examines the association between genetics and alcohol […]

Study Analysis Finds Gene Variation Associated with Increased Depression May Not Provide Link

Much of the effective treatment of depression lies in the accurate identification of its origin and triggers. While stressful life events are an obvious trigger, a specific gene variation that has been identified as increasing the risk in conjunction with stressful life events may actually have no impact at all. This surprising finding is the […]

Genetic Cause of Fetal Alcohol-Related Developmental Disorders Found

A new animal study found a specific genetic cause of fetal alcohol-related developmental disorders. When pregnant women consume alcohol, the genetic processes that control thyroid hormone levels in the fetal brain are interfered with. Fetal alcohol exposure can cause neurodevelopmental disorders such as emotional behavioral disorders and deficits in learning, memory, and speech. Past animal […]