Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects approximately 1% of the population and has a strong genetic component. This study combined data from 53,660 OCD cases and 2,044,417 controls of European ancestry, identifying 30 genetic markers strongly associated with OCD and finding that genetic factors explain 6.7% of the risk. Separate analyses for different sub-groups of OCD, such […]
Researchers investigated the relationships between alcohol use, behavioral traits (such as impulsivity and negative emotions), and genetic risk. Using data from 3,681 participants aged 11 to 36, researchers examined how behavioral traits and genetic risk factors are linked to different stages of alcohol use (first drink, intoxication, AUD symptoms, AUD diagnosis). The study found that […]
Researchers studied brain wave patterns (EEG coherence) in a group of 1426 participants aged 12 to 31 in order to better understand how brain connections develop in teens and young adults. They looked at specific brain activity (high alpha frequency) across 27 pairs of brain regions, resulting in 5006 observations. Using statistical methods, they analyzed […]
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing a traumatic event. It’s characterized by symptoms like intrusive thoughts, heightened arousal, avoiding reminders of the trauma, and negative changes in mood and thinking. For some individuals, these symptoms persist long after the traumatic experience has ended, significantly impacting their quality […]
Alcohol consumption is impacted by a combination of genetic predispositions and environmental influences. We investigated how genome-wide polygenic risk scores for alcohol use (alc-PRS) interact with the level of social support among individuals of European American (EA) and African American (AA) descent, across various age groups ranging from emerging adulthood to middle adulthood. Our analysis […]
Researchers investigated future prevention protocols for reducing heavy drinking and alcohol-related issues in individuals with a low response to alcohol, a genetically influenced risk factor for recurring alcohol problems. Recent research has shown that addressing factors such as associating with heavy drinking peers, holding inaccurate beliefs about the benefits of heavy drinking, and using alcohol […]
The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) has been exploring these elements and has identified potential genes associated with the risk of Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) through comprehensive genetic studies. In this fifth section, COGA continues with its investigation, by further diving into how genetics affect the body’s function in the context of AUD. COGA […]
Alcohol use disorder and its related health problems come from a mix of genes, brain activity, and environment, affecting people differently as they grow. In this section, COGA has looked at how the brain works in relation to alcohol use risks and problems. They use brain tests and family info to separate the risks linked […]
This article offers an overview of the methodologies offered in collecting data for the COGA study and also dives into the characteristics of the study sample and clinical information. This is a second installment of a 5 paper series. The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) is a comprehensive multidisciplinary research initiative aimed at […]
This comprehensive study investigates the genetic factors contributing to substance use disorders (SUDs), including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and opioid use. It encompasses a vast dataset with over a million participants, representing diverse populations. Researchers took several steps to investigate the genetic factors associated with substance use disorders (SUDs). First, they categorized the effects of […]
