Abstract
Addictions are serious and common psychiatric disorders, and are among the leading contributors to preventable death. This selective review outlines and highlights the need for a multi-method translational approach to genetic studies of these important conditions, including both licit (alcohol, nicotine) and illicit (cannabis, cocaine, opiates) drug addictions and the behavioral addiction of disordered gambling. First, we review existing knowledge from twin studies that indicates both the substantial heritability of substance-specific addictions and the genetic overlap across addiction to different substances. Next, we discuss the limited number of candidate genes which have shown consistent replication, and the implications of emerging genomewide association findings for the genetic architecture of addictions. Finally, we review the utility of extensions to existing methods such as novel phenotyping, including the use of endophenotypes, biomarkers and neuroimaging outcomes; emerging methods for identifying alternative sources of genetic variation and accompanying statistical methodologies to interpret them; the role of gene–environment interplay; and importantly, the potential role of genetic variation in suggesting new alternatives for treatment of addictions.
Highlights
The term ‘addiction’ covers a broad range of maladaptive aspects of drug use or other behaviors leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.[1]
Animal research shows that repeated drug use alters gene expression profiles in the brain reward system, through epigenetic mechanisms such as histone acetylation and methylation change and there is no doubt that epigenetic variation is an integral component of the biology of addiction
Despite some current disenchantment with studies of common variants, there is much work that is needed to understand the precise mechanisms by which candidate genes and their common single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) influence addiction
Summary
The term ‘addiction’ covers a broad range of maladaptive aspects of drug use or other behaviors leading to clinically significant impairment or distress.[1] Addiction includes alcohol use disorders, nicotine dependence, cannabis and cocaine use disorders as well as non-substance–related behaviors. These serious but common psychiatric disorders are among the leading contributors to morbidity and mortality worldwide.[2,3]. We discuss how the application of these various methods has begun to elucidate processes underlying nicotine addiction and the strategies this enables for new treatments
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
