The Genetic Factor of Alcoholism

Posted by Uni Blake Jul 4, 2009

If two different people take a similar journey with alcohol, the end result may be different. They may frequent the same bars, drink the same amounts of alcohol over the same period of time. After a given amount of time one of the two may have the ability to walk away from that lifestyle, while the other faces a lifetime of alcohol dependence. Even though their level of alcohol abuse was similar there is a difference in the end point. This may be the genetic factor, where some people have higher tendency to become alcoholics. It is not that their will power is lacking but that their brain is wired differently. Researchers are actively working on ways to determine what genes are responsible for this difference in wiring. In the future it is hoped that it will be possible to determine an individual predisposition to alcoholism by looking at their genetic information.