Genetic Factors in Alcoholism

Abstract

The contribution of genetic factors to vulnerability to alcoholism has been vigorously debated in the past 30 years. During this period research has shifted from looking for evidence of whether alcoholism could be a genetically influenced disorder to the delineation of the complexities of biological vulnerability. It has been well accepted that alcoholism and alcohol-related diseases have a pronounced familial tendency. Based on a large number of recent multilevel studies (epidemiological, clinical, neurophysiological, neuropsychological, biochemical, organ damage, genetic markers, family, adoption and twin studies, high-risk groups, and environmental factors), it is now well agreed that a strong genetic component plays an important role in the development of alcoholism (for a recent review on genetics and alcoholism, see Goedde and Agarwal 1987b; Agarwal and Goedde 1987c). However, to identify discrete underlying genetic factors in the development of alcoholism one is confronted with a number of questions such as is alcoholism an inherited disorder; are there genetically distinct forms of alcoholism; is alcoholism a multifactorial disorder with a monogenic or polygenic aetiology; what are the predisposing factors; are the genetic contributions from the environmental influences separable; what is the mode of transmission of the biological risk factors; is it possible to modulate genetic influences through prevention strategies (e.g., education, making alcohol nonavailable via price and production strategies (e.g., education, making alcohol nonavailable via price and production policies)? To answer some of these questions, it may be worthwhile reviewing some of the already known liability factors in alcoholism.