Scientists have found that people who drink alcohol more than once a week are at a higher risk of Internet addiction.
If you enjoy a few glasses of wine more than once a week, research has shown that you are more likely to become addicted.
This means it will be easier for you to become addicted to things like the internet, video games, or exercise than it would be for someone who doesn’t drink. alcohol like regularly.
Researchers at Semmelweis University Hungary identified several genes, each of which triggers several addictive behaviors, including substance use.
Their findings not only suggest that different addictions are linked, but also that some of us are more susceptible to them due to our genetic make-up.
The study found that the “rs759364 A” allele of the FOXN3 gene was associated with problem gambling behavior, problematic internet use, and frequency of drinking six or more times a month (image).
Many studies have linked alcohol, drugs and gamble predilection for genetics, and sought to identify the variants responsible for susceptibility.
However, the authors of the new study say they each link one particular type of addiction to genetic variants.
Dr. Csaba Barta said: “It has been previously proven that a strong genetic influence exists in the case of various addictions.
“Heritability, which is a measure of the genetic contribution to a trait, is estimated at between 50 and 70 percent of predilections, with the rest being environmental influences.
“However, specific genetic variants and their neurobiological role in addiction are not as well known.”
Their work, published in Journal of Personalized Medicineexplores genetic associations for a wide variety of substance and non-substance addictions.
The researchers recruited more than 3,000 adults from secondary schools, colleges and universities in Hungary to provide a DNA sample and complete a questionnaire.
The questions addressed their alcohol use, smoking and drug use habits, and participation in potentially addictive non-substance-related activities.
These include gaming, gambling, social media use, exercise, hair pulling, and eating.
The collected data has already been used in other published studies that have shown links between addictions, but have not associated them with specific genes.
Carriers of the rs759364 G allele of the FOXN3 gene were found to be more prone to exercise addiction (file image)
It also showed that lifetime drug use is more common among men, but women are more likely to use sedatives.
Men were also more likely to be addicted to gambling, while women were more affected by eating disorders and social media overuse.
For this study, the researchers analyzed the data to see if there were any associations between the addictions identified through the questionnaires and the participants’ 32 specific DNA variants.
Dr. Bartha said: “In the current study, we found 29 associations that were nominally significant, and nine of these remained significant after statistical adjustment for multiple testing.”
General | allele | Nicotine | Alcohol | cannabis | Other drugs | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Not used (n = 3588) | Usage (n=1026) | Not used (n = 3538) | Usage (n=440) | Not used (n = 4204) | Usage (n=160) | Not used (n=4088) | Ever used (n = 1246) | |||
FOXN3 | 759364 rupees | AND | 30.80% | 26.60% | 30.00% | 37.50% | 30.40% | 33.60% | 30.10% | 32.60% |
gram | 69.20% | 73.40% | 70.00% | 62.50% | 69.60% | 66.40% | 69.90% | 67.40% | ||
GDNF | 1549250 rupees | FROM | 41.20% | 45.10% | 40.80% | 44.70% | 41.00% | 44.00% | 40.90% | 46.00% |
AND | 58.80% | 54.90% | 59.20% | 55.30% | 59.00% | 56.00% | 59.10% | 54.00% | ||
T | 84.50% | 84.20% | 84.60% | 81.70% | 84.70% | 79.90% | 84.40% | 83.40% | ||
GDNF | PC2973033 | FROM | 27.80% | 31.40% | 27.60% | 32.20% | 27.70% | 32.60% | 27.30% | 31.50% |
T | 72.20% | 68.60% | 72.40% | 67.80% | 72.30% | 67.40% | 72.70% | 68.50% | ||
ASCC1 | PC1800497 | AND | 18.80% | 19.10% | 19.50% | 20.40% | 18.60% | 27.10% | 18.80% | 20.50% |
Some of these variants have been observed to predispose the wearer to multiple addictions, both related and non-substance related.
For example, the FOXN3 gene can appear in two other forms or “alleles”; rs759364 A and rs759364 G.
The study found that the “A” allele was associated with problem gambling behavior, problematic internet use, and frequency of drinking six or more times per month.
On the other hand, carriers of the “G” allele have been found to be more prone to exercise addiction.
The data also revealed an association between the rs1800497 A allele, a form of the DRD2/ANKK1 gene, and cannabis use.
In addition, associations have been found between the rs1549250 and rs2973033 variants of the GDNF gene and lifetime use of drugs other than cannabis.
Professor Mark N. Potenza of the Yale University School of Medicine said: “The study confirms that some genetic factors may be responsible for the overlap we observed earlier.”
The team’s future work will include looking for the more subtle effects that options have on drinking and smoking.
Dr. Zsolt Demetrovic, Professor of Psychology at Eötvös Lorand University, added: “These results could contribute to scientific knowledge about addictions that affect millions of people around the world.
“This can bring us closer to understanding the overlap in the vulnerability of different types of potentially addictive behaviors.
“For example, vulnerability to problematic drinking may also pose an increased risk of gambling, video game use, or work addiction.
“This may be a relevant consideration also when planning treatment interventions.”