Development/Progression

Alcohol Use Polygenic Risk Score, Social Support, and Alcohol Use among European American and African American Adults

Posted on March 22, 2024 by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

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 […]

Predictors of Risk and Resilience for Future Alcohol Problems Associated with a Low Level of Response to Alcohol

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

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: Functional Genomics.

Posted on December 7, 2023 (January 9, 2024) by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

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 […]

The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism: Brain Function

Posted on November 30, 2023 by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

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 […]

The Collaborative Study On The Genetics Of Alcoholism: Sample and Clinical Data

Posted on November 8, 2023 (November 8, 2023) by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

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 […]

Multivariate Genome-wide Association Meta-analysis Of Over 1 Million Subjects Identifies Loci Underlying Multiple Substance Use Disorders

Posted on October 5, 2023 (September 29, 2023) by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

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 […]

The Amyloid Precursor Protein Modulates the Position and Length of the Axon Initial Segment

Posted on September 28, 2023 (September 23, 2023) by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

This study delves into the complex involvement of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While APP is primarily known for its connection to the production of β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides, a characteristic of AD brains, this research uncovers a different facet of its functionality. It reveals a unique link between APP and neuronal […]

Alcohol Reverses The Effects Of KCNJ6 (GIRK2) Noncoding Variants On Excitability Of Human Glutamatergic Neurons

Posted on September 7, 2023 (September 3, 2023) by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

Researchers focused on variations within the KCNJ6 gene, which encodes the GIRK2 protein responsible for regulating cell excitability, including responses to alcohol. To investigate this further, the study utilizes a human neuron model system, including individuals with the ERO-associated allelic variant in KCNJ6 and diagnosed alcohol dependence, as well as those without the variant and unaffected […]

Specific Diagnostic Criteria Identify Those At High Risk For Progression From ‘Preaddiction’ To Severe Alcohol Use Disorder

Posted on September 1, 2023 by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

This study examined the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD), emphasizing the need for a more nuanced approach beyond simple criterion counts. Current diagnostic systems, such as the DSM-5, rely on counting the number of criteria met, without considering the heterogeneity among criteria. By analyzing data from a large cohort, the study highlights the importance of […]

Do Personality Characteristics Predict Future Alcohol Problems After Considering Current Demography, Substance Use, And Alcohol Response?

Posted on August 25, 2023 (August 25, 2023) by Priscille Myrthil-Harder

Certain personality traits have been identified as predictors of future alcohol-related issues. However, these traits are also connected to various demographic and substance-related factors and few studies have investigated whether personality traits continue to predict alcohol problems when accounting for current demographic and substance-related factors. This study followed 414 non-alcohol use disorder (AUD) drinkers […]