The Role of Genetics in Alcoholsim

Abstract

Alcoholism is a very debilitating disease that affects millions of people and has a morbidity rate that continues to rise. Scientists understand alcoholism to have genetic factors, although its expansiveness is still unknown. Recent studies have linked alcohol use disorder, alcohol consumption, and alcohol dependence genes to be regulated by SNPs thought to be in the endocannabinoid system. This discovery is believed to continue to define alcoholism as a psychiatric disorder characterized by substance abuse. Alongside its relationship with SNPs, other recent studies have connected alcohol use disorder to other psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Although some findings are not statistically significant, the information continues to lead science toward the understanding of alcoholism and how it is created.