Is Alcoholism Genetic? Heres What You Need to Know

This means if you have more than one close relative with an alcohol use disorder, you may have inherited genes that put you at risk. It is believed that some people are genetically predisposed to having higher levels of tolerance and preference for alcohol, which may make them more likely to become dependent on it. Alcohol tolerance is largely determined by a person’s genes and is known as “alcohol dependence syndrome” or ADS.

• Those with moderate or severe disorders may need to go through a medically supervised detoxification program.
• You can break the cycle of addiction with the right treatment, motivation, and support.

If you are in doubt, here we can help you answer some questions and find out if you need to start your recovery journey. Moreover, the environment influences how genes are expressed, and learned behaviors can alter how a person perceives alcohol or drug use. While this correlation can impact whether a person inherits certain genetic mutations that make them vulnerable to an AUD, growing up in an environment affected by addiction can also predispose an individual to the disease.

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People with mental illness have a higher risk of turning to substance abuse as a way of coping. Mental disorders can be hereditary (and environmental), which partially illuminates the complex link between genetics and addiction. Ultimately, genetics can play a role in the likelihood of developing an addiction but it is not the only factor at play.

• It is believed that some people are genetically predisposed to having higher levels of tolerance and preference for alcohol, which may make them more likely to become dependent on it.
• Many extensive and large-scale studies have been conducted over the years to explore the genetic risk of AUD.
• A 2008 study performed at the University of Colorado investigated the genetic pathways that affected alcohol drinking behaviors.
• This means that family wealth also contributes to the development of alcoholism.
• The incidence of alcoholism was slightly higher among people who were exposed to alcoholism only through their adoptive families.
• The genes involved are players in a variety of basic body function, such as cell-to-cell communications, the control of protein synthesis, cell-to-cell interactions, and regulation development.

At Gateway, our rehabilitation center offers individualized care and counseling to get you on the road to recovery. We can help you tackle any social is alcoholism inherited or environmental triggers contributing to your alcohol abuse. Our compassionate team is here to help with evidence-based treatment programs.

How Genetics Contribute to Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder, the medical term for alcoholism and alcohol abuse, has been linked to some specific genes. Having a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, who struggles with alcohol use disorder increases the chances that a person will also struggle with the same addiction. This makes a strong argument for the learned behavior theory but in reality, there may be other influences that might predispose a person to alcohol addiction. Aside from genetics, environmental risk factors such as lack of parental supervision and mental illnesses can also increase the likelihood of developing AUD. Though genetic factors increase the risk of AUD, no one is guaranteed to develop it, even with a family history of alcohol misuse.

One group of researchers pinpointed 11 genes that were linked to alcoholism. Studies like these are providing clues to how alcohol addiction and genetics work. One of the biggest environmental factors is growing up in a home where alcohol is consistently available. If a child sees their parents drinking, or if there is no parental supervision over the consumption of alcohol, then it is likely that they may develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol later on in life. Children begin to see this as just another daily activity and therefore are less concerned about overall risk. There is a growing body of scientific evidence that alcoholism has a genetic component.

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Currently little is fully understood about how our genes directly contribute to alcohol use disorder, but there is for sure a correlation. Genes can also play a role in the type of treatment we need to overcome alcoholism. Understanding this better can help someone get the type of treatment they need to overcome alcoholism.

Analyses of RNA expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines suggested that SNPs
within this region on chromosome 5 had cis-acting regulatory
effects on the expression of HTR1A or
IPO11. PECR
is located within broad linkage peaks for several alcohol-related traits,
including alcoholism66,
comorbid alcoholism and depression67, level of response to alcohol68, and amplitude of the P3(00)
response69, 70. Unlike many genetic disorders that are primarily caused by a single gene, «the inheritance of AUD is not due to a single gene,» says Adinoff.

Excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts many health conditions, such as:

This reinforces the desire to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress. Those who have mental illnesses, especially anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia are very likely to struggle with co-occurring alcohol use disorder. Women are at risk of developing AUD faster than men due to differences in body mass, hormones, and metabolism. Those with a history of alcoholism in their family have the highest risk of becoming alcoholics. If you have multiple relatives with alcohol addictions or other substance use disorders, you may have inherited the genes that put you at risk.

• While the answer is not cut-and-dry, those with alcoholic parents show an increased risk of alcohol use disorders and developing an addiction to alcohol.
• Among identical twins, their 23 chromosome pairs are exactly the same (i.e., identical twin are monozygotic).
• If a child sees their parents drinking, or if there is no parental supervision over the consumption of alcohol, then it is likely that they may develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol later on in life.
• Chronic heavy drinking also increases the risk of kidney disease, diabetes, and several cancers.
• But strong genes are an exception – moreover, a gene responsible for the movement of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) in synapses between neurons appears to be a strong gene linked to a higher chance of an AUD.