New research conducted at the University has identified a genetic variant that could explain why some people drink more heavily than others.
University Psychiatry Prof. Ming Li and University Psychiatric Medicine Chair Bankole Johnson tested six different genetic variants of the serotonin transporter gene — the gene known to affect the drinking intensity of alcoholics. The pair found that one of the six variants of the gene, known as SLC6A4, is significantly associated with drinking intensity, which is defined as the amount of alcohol an individual consumes per day.
The study, published this month in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, examined a total of 275 white and Latino subjects classified as alcoholics in 2008. An alcoholic was defined as a woman who consumes at least 21 drinks per week or as a man who consumes at least 30 drinks per week. The two researchers concluded that white males carrying one DNA sequence variation turned out to be heavier drinkers than those carrying a different variation.
“If this finding is replicated by other independent studies, we might be able to target this specific variant to treat alcoholics,” Li said, noting that the isolation of the gene could lead to further advancements in the care and rehabilitation of alcoholic patients.
Li added that previous studies have shown that the serotogenic system of the brain regulates the rewarding effects of alcohol. More specifically, the serotonin transporter allows neurons to accumulate serotonin — the neurotransmitter that helps regulate emotions and drives. The genetic mutation of the serotonin transporter identified in this study might predispose some individuals to alcohol dependency.
With this in mind, Johnson said he hopes the team’s findings will help researchers discover a way to “screen individuals [for this genetic mutation] to determine who may be at risk for severe drinking.”
Li said the findings of this study support previous conclusions that the an alcoholic’s brain operates differently from those of non-alcoholics on a fundamental level. He said he expects it will take about two more years, though, to confirm that the genetic variant identified in this study influences drinking intensity.
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