Geneticists working at Texas Biomedical Research Institute have identified an ‘echo’ of a gene in the brain that disposes people to alcoholism.
Geneticists Laura Almasy and Mark Zlojutro and a nationwide collaborative team studied the brain waves of hundreds of subjects asked to perform certain tasks, and noted patterns that were common to those at risk of dependence on alcohol.
“An important point,” said Almasy, “is that they’ve also been shown to be different in the children of alcoholics. These differences in brain activity are not a consequence of someone’s drinking. They’re there beforehand.” Continue reading →