Overlapping Genetic Influences on Alcohol Consumption and Dependence

UC San Diego School of Medicine researchers found that a common measure of alcohol consumption — asking “how often do you have an alcoholic drink?” — is susceptible to bias, and has led to incorrect conclusions about biological influences on alcohol use. Using a novel approach, they found that many of the same genes influence both alcohol consumption and dependence. They also identified new links between genetic risk for problematic alcohol use and psychiatric conditions such as mood disorders.