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Multiple Addictive Disorders Influenced by Same Genes in Study
Researchers from the Yale School of Medicine and several international universities have identified multiple genes and variants that trigger substance use and other addictive behaviors.
The findings, which were published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine, indicate potential overlaps between different disorders that are influenced by the same genes, meaning those who regularly drink alcohol, for example, could be more likely to develop an Internet, gaming, or exercise addiction.
The analysis was part of the Psychological and Genetic Factors of Addictions (PGA) study, which assessed addictive behaviors in more than 3000 young adults who were 21 years old on average. Participants provided DNA samples and answered questionnaires, which covered alcohol consumption, as well as tobacco, cannabis, and other drug use. Participants were also asked about their engagement in 7 potentially addictive behaviors.
The researchers found that certain genes and their variants could make an individual susceptible to both substance use and other potentially addictive behaviors, meaning the same individuals could have a predisposition to multiple types of addiction.
“A novelty of the PGA study is that it explores the relationships between substance use and non-substance-related addictive behaviors in detail,” Dr Zsolt Demetrovics, chair of the Centre of Excellence in Responsible Gaming at the University of Gibraltar and Professor of Psychology at Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, said in a news release.
“It could bring us closer to understanding the overlap between the vulnerability of different types of potentially addictive behaviors. For example, being vulnerable to problematic alcohol use might also pose an increased risk for gambling, video game use or working addiction. This could be a relevant consideration also when planning treatment interventions.”
The study also identified several differences between genders:
- The lifetime occurrence of different types of drugs was significantly higher in males.
- Sedatives were more often used by females.
- In the category of addictions not involving substance use, men were more susceptible to gambling, while women were more affected by eating disorders and excessive social media use.
The researchers added in a news release announcing their findings that subsequent studies will look at specific forms of addiction in greater detail to identify more subtle correlations between gene variants and their effects on alcohol use or smoking.
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