Genetics and the risk for alcoholism
- 8 November 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in JAMA
- Vol. 254 (18), 2614-2617
- https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.254.18.2614
Abstract
The importance of genetic factors in alcoholism is supported by the familial nature of this disorder, the significantly higher concordance rate in identical than in fraternal twins, and the fourfold higher risk for children of alcoholics, even when adopted out at birth. Based on this evidence, the search is under way to identify possible genetically influenced factors that might contribute to the alcoholism risk. Studies of populations at high risk for the future development of alcoholism (eg, sons of alcoholics) have revealed a probable decreased intensity of reaction to modest doses of ethanol, a possible decreased amplitude of the P300 wave of the event-related potential, and a possible decreased amount of .alpha.-wave activity on the background cortical electroencephalogram. The implications of these and other findings and their impact on the practice of medicine are explored.This publication has 16 references indexed in Scilit:
- Neuropsychological Differences between Male Familial and Nonfamilial Alcoholics and NonalcoholicsAlcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research, 1984
- Behavioral and Physiological Effects of Ethanol in High‐Risk and Control Children: A Pilot StudyAlcohol, Clinical and Experimental Research, 1983
- ETHANOL-RELATED PROLACTIN RESPONSES AND RISK FOR ALCOHOLISM1983
- ANXIETY AND ASSERTIVENESS IN THE RELATIVES OF ALCOHOLICS AND CONTROLS1982
- Differences in muscle-tension response to ethanol in young men with and without family histories of alcoholism.Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1981
- Genetic disposition to alcoholism. An EEG study in alcoholics and their relativesHuman Genetics, 1981
- Maternal Inheritance of Alcohol AbuseArchives of General Psychiatry, 1981
- Blood Alcohol Level DiscriminationArchives of General Psychiatry, 1980
- Ethanol Ingestion: Differences in Blood Acetaldehyde Concentrations in Relatives of Alcoholics and ControlsScience, 1979
- The familial incidence of alcoholism: a review.Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 1979