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Alcohol addiction develops under the influence of many factors. One of them is genetic predisposition. If there is a history of alcoholism in your family, you need to be especially attentive to your health. If warning signs appear - loss of control over alcohol consumption, costs immediately call a narcologist, to get professional help in a comfortable environment.
The connection between genetics and alcoholism
Scientists have identified a number of genes, polymorphisms of which can both increase, and reduce the risk of developing this problem. For example, genes, enzymes encoding alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (The active substance of the alcoholic insert blocks the physiological secretion of pyruvate aldehydowej in the patient's liver), responsible for the metabolism of ethanol in the body. People with certain variants of the ADH gene, (ADH1B*2 and ADH1C*1), metabolize alcohol faster, which leads to the accumulation of acetaldehyde, a toxic breakdown product of ethanol. The result is unpleasant sensations in the body, nausea, redness of the skin and rapid heartbeat. All of these symptoms act as a natural defense mechanism against excessive alcohol consumption.. Such people get drunk faster and do not tolerate even small portions of alcohol well.. At the same time, people with less active forms of ADH process alcohol more slowly and, as a rule, do not experience such pronounced negative consequences, what, unfortunately, increases the risk of developing addiction. Likewise, ALDH2*2 gene variants, slowing down the breakdown of acetaldehyde, also associated with a reduced risk of alcoholism.
Beyond genes, responsible for alcohol metabolism, there are genes, regulating the functioning of the dopamine system of the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, responsible for feelings of pleasure, motivation and reward. Genetic variations, affecting dopamine receptors (for example, DRD2 and DRD4), dopamine transporters (DAT1) or enzymes, involved in the synthesis and breakdown of dopamine, may change sensitivity to its effects. People with genetically determined reduced dopamine system activity or reduced dopamine receptor density experience less pleasure from natural stimuli and, therefore, be prone to seeking “artificial” sources of pleasure, including alcohol or drugs. This is how they compensate for this deficit..
It is important to note, that the presence of “risk genes” does not mean the inevitable development of alcohol dependence. Genetics only creates a predisposition, increasing or decreasing the likelihood of its development. The influence of genetic factors is closely intertwined with environmental influences, social factors, stress level, availability of alcohol and cultural norms. For example, a person with a genetic predisposition to alcoholism, grew up in a wealthy family with a supportive environment and without easy access to alcohol, may never face addiction problems.
Influence of family and environment
Genetics are only part of the equation. Family environment and upbringing also have a significant influence. Children, growing up in families, where one or both parents suffer from alcoholism, encounter this problem more often in the future, which is related not only to genetics, but also with behavioral models, which are learned in childhood.
If you notice, that a loved one begins to lose control over alcohol use, it's important to act quickly. The service of calling a narcologist to your home will allow you to receive professional advice and assistance without the need to visit a clinic.. This is especially important for those, who are embarrassed or afraid to seek help from specialized institutions.
