COGA Blog

Here is a place to read about research findings from COGA. You can learn about the development and progression of AUD, risk and protective factors, genetic findings, treatment for and recovery from AUD, disorders that sometimes occur along with AUD, and more. A complete list of the scientific papers that have been published using COGA data can be found here.

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Genomic Analysis Of 1.5 Million People Uncovers Genes Related To Addiction, Antisocial Behavior, And Disease

Externalizing behaviors encompass a range of traits tied to self-regulation, like substance use disorders and childhood behavior problems, significantly influencing an individual’s life path. Previous research hinted at a shared genetic inclination for these behaviors, yet a comprehensive study to identify the responsible genes on a large scale was absent.     This study delves [...]

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The Collaborative Study On The Genetics Of Alcoholism: Functional Genomics.

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 [...]

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The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism: Brain Function

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 [...]

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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 [...]

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

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 [...]

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The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism: Overview

Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are common conditions influenced by both genetics and the environment. They can lead to various problems related to excessive alcohol consumption. To comprehensively investigate the causes and consequences of alcohol-related milestones, including AUD and associated psychiatric conditions, the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) was established in 1989.  COGA [...]

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

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 [...]

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

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 [...]

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RNA Alternative Splicing Impacts The Risk For Alcohol Use Disorder

Researchers investigate how RNA alternative splicing, a process where genes create different versions of their instructions, might be linked to alcohol use disorder (AUD). Previous research found changes in RNA splicing in the brains of individuals with AUD, but it’s unclear if these changes contribute to the disorder. The challenge is the lack of large-scale [...]

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

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 [...]

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