Just 11 genes could help predict alcoholism risk

Researchers have suggested that a group of 11 genes can successfully predict whether an individual is at increased risk of alcoholism. Alexander B. Niculescu III, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator a

By: Editorial Team | | Updated: October 7, 2014 5:35 pm

genes Researchers have suggested that a group of 11 genes can successfully predict whether an individual is at increased risk of alcoholism. Alexander B. Niculescu III, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator and associate professor of psychiatry and medical neuroscience at the Indiana University School of Medicine, said this powerful panel of just 11 genes successfully identified who has problems with alcohol abuse and who does not in tests in three patient populations on two continents, in two ethnicities and in both genders. Also Read - Dry January: Why giving up on alcohol in 2021 is a good idea?

The researchers incorporated data from a German genome-wide study of alcoholism with data from a variety of other types of research into genetic links to alcoholism using a system called Convergent Functional Genomics. The work produced a group of 135 candidate genes. The researchers then looked at the overlap between those 135 genes and genes whose expression activity was changed in a mouse model of stress-reactive alcoholism — research mice that respond to stress by consuming alcohol. The mouse model enables researchers to zero in on key genes that drive behavior without the myriad environmental effects that are present in humans. (Read: Think before you drink — alcohol kills six people every minute!) Also Read - Ganesh Chaturthi 2020: 4 reasons an eco-friendly Ganesha is good for you

The mouse model analysis narrowed the candidates down to the panel of 11 genes and 66 variations of those genes called single-nucleotide polymorphisms. The researchers then determined that the panel of 11 genes could be used to differentiate between alcoholics and non-alcoholics (controls) in three different research populations for which genetic data and information about alcohol consumption were available: a group of Caucasian subjects and a group of African American subjects from the U.S., and a third group from Germany. (Read: 7 ways you could be damaging your kidneys ) Also Read - Drug used to treat alcoholism may help fight COVID-19

Many of the 11 genes also have been implicated as associated with other neuropsychiatric disorders including cocaine addiction, Parkinson’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety — not too surprising given that basic brain biology is involved, and links between such diseases as alcoholism and bipolar disorder have been known clinically for many years, Dr. Niculescu said. The study has been published online in the journal Translational Psychiatry.

Alcohol and liver disease — what’s the connection?

Everyone from your doctor to your grandmother have told you that alcohol is bad for your liver but do you know why? Well for that you need to understand a little bit about the liver. The liver is such a vital organ that there’s no single artificial organ that can replace it or perform all its functions. Its main task is to process nutrients from your food, process toxins and help your blood clot. It also provides glucose so that your body can function normally, so you understand just how vital an organ the liver is.

A variety of lifestyle choices can cause liver damage but the most common cause is heavy alcohol consumption. When you drink alcohol, the liver gets diverted from its other functions and focuses mainly on converting alcohol to a less toxic form. Absorption of alcohol by the liver causes fatty liver disease, inflammation of the liver and cirrhosis.

Short-term effects of alcohol consumption

When you drink, the liver works overtime to convert the alcohol into acetic acid which is then converted into acetate which we release from the body as urine. When it’s doing all this, it’s diverted from its primary purpose of providing glucose. This lack of glucose causes the effects of a hangover like nausea, vomiting, headaches and fatigue and in medical terms is called hypoglycaemia or the lack of glucose. Also, glucose is vital for our brain to function and this explains why we are lethargic and have slower cognitive function during hangovers. (Read more on alcohol)

With inputs from ANI

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Published : May 22, 2014 2:35 pm | Updated:October 7, 2014 5:35 pm

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