THURSDAY, Nov. 20 -- Variations in the genetic makeup of alcoholics may
affect how much they drink, a new study suggests.
And the key might be the brain's control of serotonin, a mood-influencing
neurological chemical.
The research could potentially help doctors understand who might be at
highest risk of becoming an alcoholic, and then treat that person, said
study co-author Ming D. Li, head of neurobiology at the University of
Virginia.
Li added that the research is unique, because it shows that a single gene
variation is connected to a kind of behavior -- alcoholism.
The genetic blueprint that people inherit from their parents accounts for
an estimated 40 percent to 50 percent of a person's risk of becoming
alcoholic, said Dr. Robert Philibert, director of the Laboratory of
Psychiatric Genetics at the University of Iowa.
The interplay between genetic makeup and environmental factors is
responsible for the rest of the risk, said Philibert, who's familiar with
the new study's findings.
"This study really takes the next step down the line," he said, in
understanding the role that genes play in alcoholism.
For the study, the researchers looked at the DNA of 275 alcoholics who had
sought treatment. Almost 80 percent were men, and all were of European
descent. The researchers found that differences in the genes that affect
serotonin levels in the brain coincided with the amount of alcohol consumed
by the drinkers.
The findings were published online Nov. 20 and were expected to be in the
February 2009 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Scientists think serotonin, a neurotransmitter, is crucial to human moods
and emotions as well as things like sleep. Low levels of serotonin can lead
to depression; some antidepressants aim to help the brain do a better job
of processing serotonin.
"We know that serotonin is critical to maintaining a positive sense of self
and for controlling our anxiety," Philibert said. That could explain a
possible connection between serotonin levels and alcoholism, he added.
Li cautioned, however, that it's unlikely that a single genetic trait by
itself would make someone more susceptible to alcoholism. It's more likely
that a genetic variation works with other genes to raise the risk, he
said.
Philibert said research might lead to a day when doctors could look at an
alcoholic's genetic traits and discover whether antidepressants could help
that person.
Doctors, he said, might say, "You have this genotype and you drink a lot,
so you may benefit from a drug like Prozac."
More information
Learn more about alcoholism from the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol
Abuse and Alcoholism -
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/ .
Source -
http://www.drugs.com/ 
If you are looking for a product such as Buy Hyalgan, Surgiderm, Orthovisc, Synvisc, Sculptra, Radiesse , Hyalgan, Botox, Restylane, Orthovisc, Synvisc, Sculptra, Radiesse or Juvederm at a price lower than what we are offering on our site please contact us and we will meet or beat it.
