Genetic Links Found Between Neuronal Plasticity and Alcohol Use Disorders

A study conducted by researchers at Indiana University has identified a connection between alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and a group of genes that influence neuronal plasticity and pain perceptions. Using three different animal models, the study found that genes involved in pain sensation interact with neural channel and neural excitation genes, which are responsible for neural communication. The findings suggest that early identification of a genetic predisposition to alcoholism could lead to more targeted treatment or prevention strategies, and raise the possibility of genetic testing for alcoholism.