By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    HIPPA compliance
    How Medical Office Staff Can Make Your Practice HIPAA Compliant
    October 29, 2021
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    Everything you need to know about hyaluronic acid treatment
    February 10, 2022
    Which Mushroom Capsules Are Good for Your Health?
    May 5, 2022
    Latest News
    Ostomy Tips To Be Active And Healthy
    February 8, 2023
    Exploring Healthcare Solutions after Amputation Injury
    February 8, 2023
    What To Expect On A Meditation Retreat In Miami
    February 6, 2023
    Botanical Extracts That Should be on Your Health Radar
    February 5, 2023
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Pharmacists help you
    How A Pharmacist Can Help You
    November 28, 2022
    Response to Austin Frakt
    September 9, 2017
    Medicare by the Numbers
    April 18, 2011
    Latest News
    Why Is a Referenced Based Pricing Tool Necessary?
    February 3, 2023
    Simplifying the Genetic Testing Process: How At-Home Kits are Changing the Game
    January 25, 2023
    9 Hospitals That Have Introduced Green Initiatives
    February 1, 2023
    Why a Health Retreat Can Be the Best Medicine
    January 12, 2023
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Personalized Medicine for Alcoholism
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Latest News
Diagnostic Tools for doctors
7 Essential Diagnostic Tools Used by Doctors
Diagnostics
Ostomy Tips
Ostomy Tips To Be Active And Healthy
Health
nursing career adopt
Ways to Boost Your Nursing Career and Get Promoted
Nursing
advancement in nursing career
5 Ways to Advance Your Nursing Career
Nursing
healthcare workers with gloves
Tips to Keep Health Workers Safe in the Workplace
Hospital Administration
Aa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Aa
Search
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Innovations > Personalized Medicine for Alcoholism
Medical InnovationsTechnology

Personalized Medicine for Alcoholism

GlennLaffel
Last updated: 2017/08/26 at 1:21 PM
GlennLaffel
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE
 

Contents
Gene Links to Alcoholism: A Sampler Where This is Headed

Genetic factors predispose people to alcoholism. That’s why the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop drinking problems, and the sons of alcoholic fathers are at even greater risk. And that’s why kids who are born to alcoholic parents and then raised by non-drinking parents have the same risk for alcoholism as if they had been raised by their biologic parents.

This is not to say that one, or even a handful of genes are responsible for the disease. The number is clearly far higher than that. Genes that predispose to alcoholism affect diverse physiological functions ranging from those involved with alcohol metabolism to those governing the behavioral response to rewards and pleasure. Some genes linked primarily to depression have even been linked to alcoholism.

The explanation for this multi-gene etiology is that diverse social and environmental factors can interact with genetically programmed mechanisms in complex ways, all of which end-up precipitating the syndrome.

More Read

technology innovation in healthcare

5 Ways New Technology is Revolutionizing Health

Medical Code Extraction Using Artificial Intelligence
Maximizing Outcomes Through Effective Patient Engagement Strategies
Telemedicine App Development Cost & Key Features
Robotic Technologies Can Improve Hospital Working Conditions

Gene Links to Alcoholism: A Sampler

The “Asian Flush” genes are perhaps the best understood in this regard. Fully one third of all people of East Asian descent are born with a genetic deficiency that causes their cheeks, and often their necks, arms and trunk to turn sunburn-red after consuming even small amounts of alcohol. This “Asian Flush” syndrome is often associated with nausea, headache and tachycardia, distasteful symptoms which act collectively to deter people from drinking alcohol. The result: very few affected individuals become alcoholics.

A separate, colloquially named “tipsy gene” makes affected individuals feel completely bombed after just a drink or two. As many as 20% of the US population has the tipsy gene. It too seems to protect people from becoming alcoholics.

By contrast, a gene variant for the DRD2 dopamine receptor in the brain causes people to feel downright euphoric after drinking, probably because it alters the way the brain’s reward circuits respond to alcohol. Some (but not all) studies have shown this gene variant to be present in a disproportionate number of alcoholics, drug addicts and cigarette smokers.

Where This is Headed

The breakthrough concept that dozens of genes are linked to alcoholism has fostered the idea that multiple, gene-specific drugs can be deployed to fight the disease. Moving beyond the one-drug-fits all paradigm will likely lead to more effective therapy and improved compliance, or so goes the theory.

Scientists have already made progress in this regard. For example, Bankole Johnson and colleagues at the University of Virginia recently identified a cohort of alcoholics that shared a certain gene variations involving serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain. They prescribed ondansetron (Zofran) for these patients. Ondansetron is a serotonin blocker that is normally used to treat chemotherapy-related nausea. Remarkably, the drug reduced alcohol consumption in alcoholics with one specific gene variation, but not in those with other kinds of gene variations.

Similarly, scientists have shown that alcohol-dependent patients with a certain, specific gene variation for an opioid receptor in the brain had sustained, positive outcomes when treated with the drug naltrexone. Patients with different genetic abnormalities didn’t have the same positive response to the opioid blocking drug.

“Imagine this scenario,” Johnson said in an interview. “You go to your doctor and say, ‘I’m drinking and I need help. The doctor (performs) a blood test and if you qualify, you get tablets the next day and they’re likely to be effective. If you do not qualify, you don’t waste your time with the medicine.”

Cool stuff.

TAGGED: alcoholism, medical innovations

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
GlennLaffel March 16, 2011
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Share
Previous Article Dog Versus Treadmill: No Contest
Next Article How the AMA Has Undermined Primary Care

Stay Connected

1.5k Followers Like
4.5k Followers Follow
2.8k Followers Pin
136k Subscribers Subscribe

Latest News

Diagnostic Tools for doctors
7 Essential Diagnostic Tools Used by Doctors
Diagnostics February 8, 2023
Ostomy Tips
Ostomy Tips To Be Active And Healthy
Health February 8, 2023
nursing career adopt
Ways to Boost Your Nursing Career and Get Promoted
Nursing February 8, 2023
advancement in nursing career
5 Ways to Advance Your Nursing Career
Nursing February 8, 2023

You Might also Like

alcohol detox benefits
Addiction

Alcohol Detox Benefits for People Overcoming Addiction

February 7, 2023
The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives
Technology

The Future Of Medicine: How Immunotherapy Is Saving Lives

January 26, 2023
medical practice and technology advancement
Technology

6 Essential Strategies for Improving Your Medical Practice

January 25, 2023
patient tracking systems for medical staff and innovation
Medical InnovationsTechnology

Patient Tracking Systems: Improving Facilities for Patients and Medical Staff

January 2, 2023
//

We influence million of users and is the most authentic source of information on healthcare business and technology news.

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Subscribe

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Follow US

© 2008-2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?