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Last Posted: Apr 08, 2024
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A phenome-wide association and Mendelian randomisation study of alcohol use variants in a diverse cohort comprising over 3 million individuals.
Mariela V Jennings et al. EBioMedicine 2024 4 105086

From the abstract: " We performed exploratory phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) of three of the best studied protective single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding ethanol metabolising enzymes (ADH1B: rs1229984-T, rs2066702-A; ADH1C: rs698-T) using up to 1109 health outcomes across 28 phenotypic categories (e.g., substance-use, mental health, sleep, immune, cardiovascular, metabolic) from a diverse 23andMe cohort, including European (N = 2,619,939), Latin American (N = 446,646) and African American (N = 146,776) populations to uncover new and perhaps unexpected associations. We found that that polymorphisms in genes encoding alcohol metabolising enzymes affect multiple domains of health beyond alcohol-related behaviours. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these effects could have implications for treatments and preventative medicine."

How Family History Influences Your Drinking
DG Smith, NY Times, December 13, 2023

From the article: " Alcohol use disorder — the inability to stop or control one’s drinking despite negative consequences — is a highly heritable condition. Research suggests that having an immediate family member, like a parent or sibling, with the disorder increases an individual’s chances of developing it roughly three- to fourfold. Approximately 50 percent of a person’s risk comes from their genes, but their home and social environments are also important factors."

Multi-ancestry study of the genetics of problematic alcohol use in over 1 million individuals
H Zhou et al, Nature, December 6, 2023

From the abstract: "Problematic alcohol use (PAU), a trait that combines alcohol use disorder and alcohol-related problems assessed with a questionnaire, is a leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide. Here we conducted a large cross-ancestry meta-analysis of PAU in 1,079,947 individuals (European, N?=?903,147; African, N?=?122,571; Latin American, N?=?38,962; East Asian, N?=?13,551; and South Asian, N?=?1,716 ancestries). We observed a high degree of cross-ancestral similarity in the genetic architecture of PAU and identified 110 independent risk variants. "

Diagnostic Criteria for Identifying Individuals at High Risk of Progression From Mild or Moderate to Severe Alcohol Use Disorder
AP Miller et al, JAMA Network Open, October 10, 2023

From the abstract: "Does emphasis on specific criteria for alcohol use disorder (AUD) improve the identification of individuals at risk for developing more severe AUD? In this cohort study, cross-sectional and longitudinal multimodal secondary analyses involving a combined 15?928 individuals indicated that endorsement of criteria empirically designated as representing greater severity of AUD was significantly associated with 2-fold increased likelihood of progression from mild-to-moderate AUD to severe AUD, even after accounting for total criterion count. Emphasis on more severe criteria as indicators of vulnerability for severe AUD in current diagnostic approaches may increase detection of individuals with greater likelihood for disorder progression. "

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Disclaimer: Articles listed in the Public Health Genomics and Precision Health Knowledge Base are selected by the CDC Office of Public Health Genomics to provide current awareness of the literature and news. Inclusion in the update does not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor does it imply endorsement of the article's methods or findings. CDC and DHHS assume no responsibility for the factual accuracy of the items presented. The selection, omission, or content of items does not imply any endorsement or other position taken by CDC or DHHS. Opinion, findings and conclusions expressed by the original authors of items included in the update, or persons quoted therein, are strictly their own and are in no way meant to represent the opinion or views of CDC or DHHS. References to publications, news sources, and non-CDC Websites are provided solely for informational purposes and do not imply endorsement by CDC or DHHS.

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