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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Researchers conducted a study to understand how parental divorce and discord, along with genetic factors, influence alcohol-related outcomes in children. They analyzed data from European and African ancestry participants and found that genetic risk for alcohol problems interacts with parental divorce and discord, affecting the age of alcohol initiation and the risk of alcohol use […]
Researchers investigate the relationship between genetic risk for schizophrenia and cannabis-related experiences. A study using a sample of 4,832 individuals from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) who had a history of alcohol use disorders was conducted. The participants’ cannabis involvement, including cannabis use disorder (CUD), was measured, and their polygenic risk […]
Researchers aimed to investigate how genetic variants related to the cholinergic system are associated with theta band event-related oscillations (EROs) in the brains of adolescents and young adults. The researchers analyzed data from 2,140 participants aged 12 to 25 who took part in the COGA prospective study. Theta band EROs were measured using EEG recordings […]
