Alcoholism and Genetics

The question "is alcoholism is genetic oriented" has not a definite answer. However there are some evidences that it could be. A genetic study shows that some clusters of genetic variation play an important role in alcohol addiction. Alcoholism and genetics related factors are discussed below:

It is shown that all individuals with a family history of alcoholism have some risk of developing the problem of alcoholism. Family history of alcoholism means that either or both the parents had alcoholic problems. Parental alcoholism will be a factor for children to become alcoholics. The risk increases when the child is a boy having novelty seeking personality and impulsive behavior.

A new research shows that alcoholism and genetics have some relationship. The researchers identified a new gene that may be responsible for excessive drinking habit. The scientists used micro array techniques to study the genes expression in the brain which prompts high or low consumption of alcohol. This study gives new room to deal with alcoholism disorders.

Family history of alcoholism seems to have biological dysfunction in individuals who develop stress even before they get into drinking problems while others develop such problems only after the drinking problem arises. Some other studies show that stress may lead to alcoholism. The relationship between stress and alcohol is however not yet clear. But it is found that stress increases the release of Beta endorphin and high doses of alcohol also increase the Beta endorphin. Therefore family history of alcoholism is risky and will exhibit the dysfunction of stress even before the individual develops drinking problems. Hence individuals with family history of alcoholism must try to cope up with stressful situations by some other ways and should try to avoid consuming alcohols.

The degree of genetic influences on alcoholism risk may be sex specific also. The studies show that males with family history of alcoholism have more chances to develop alcoholism than women. A research in more than 50 families shows that alcoholism runs in families. This study reveals that first degree relatives like parents, children and siblings of treated alcoholics have two or four times higher risk of developing alcoholism.

The scientists in Washington have observed that parental alcoholism and personality leads to higher risk of alcoholism in individuals. The novelty seeking personality trait and parental alcoholism will develop addiction to alcohol. If someone has thrill seeking impulsive behavior then they have chance of becoming alcoholics. The risk is double the time more if they have either or both the parent is alcoholics.

The desire for consuming alcoholic products may be due to environmental signals also. However the genetic factors also play an important role here. Adoption and twin studies show that alcoholic consumption is likely to be inherited from parents. As already stated, sex will also influence the genetic factors leading to alcoholism. The researchers identified that Chromosome 1 is the area related to alcohol consumption. Therefore it is confirmed that genetic factors will increase the risk of alcoholism. However the extent of genetic factor leading to alcoholism requires further studies.