IN PROGRESS […]
Category: News
Suicide Attempts With AUD Are Associated With Unique Brain Wave Signatures, Genetic Predisposition and Trauma
IN PROGRESS. […]
AUD Is Associated with Gene Expression and DNA Folding Changes in the Brain’s Caudate Region
IN PROGRESS […]
Genome-wide Association Analyses Identify 95 Risk Loci And Provide Insights Into The Neurobiology Of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
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 […]
The Collaborative Study On The Genetics Of Alcoholism: Genetics
This review presents a comprehensive evaluation of genetic methodologies and findings stemming from the family-centered Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA). COGA’s primary objective was to identify genes influencing the susceptibility to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its related complications. Notably, COGA was an early adopter of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) while also […]
Alcohol Use Disorder, Psychiatric Comorbidities, Marriage and Divorce in a High-risk Sample
Previous studies demonstrate the associations between alcohol use disorders (AUD) and marital outcomes in general population samples, and the associations between AUD and marital outcomes have tangible costs, because a body of work shows links between marriage with better health and well-being. This study made use of data from the Collaborative Study on the […]
Binge and High-Intensity Drinking – Laboratory Assessment and Underlying Risk Factors
Some patterns of alcohol consumption are riskier than others. How rapid consumption of alcohol contributes to the increased risk of alcohol use disorder is unclear. We developed an experiment in which participants were given specific control over how quickly their breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) changes, and then tested for relationships to risky drinking patterns. […]
The Research is In: It’s Nature AND Nurture
Science tells us that both our genes AND our environments shape the likelihood that we will develop problems with alcohol use. Because the COGA study has a wealth of data on both genetics and environments, our investigators are uniquely positioned to explore both simultaneously. See the summaries of a few recent publications to better understand […]
The Importance of Genes When Determining Risk
Alcohol use disorder is genetically influenced, but there’s no one gene that influences risk. We can now measure one’s genetic vulnerability to some common disorders using polygenic risk scores (PRS), which combine the effects of many genes into a single risk score. At the moment, PRS summarize only a small portion of an individual’s […]
Exploring Externalizing Behavior in COGA
“Externalizing” refers to a spectrum of behaviors and disorders related to impulse control. It includes substance use disorders, behavioral outcomes like risky sex, and childhood outcomes like ADHD or behavior problems. One of the ways genes influence risk for alcohol use disorders is through externalizing pathways. COGA investigators have been at the front line of […]
