BACKGROUND: Nicotine and alcohol dependence often occur together. We examined data from male twin pairs to determine whether there are genetic or environmental influences common to nicotine and alcohol dependence, and, if so, to estimate the magnitude and correlation of these influences. METHODS: Subjects were 3356 male-male twin-pair members of the Vietnam Era Twin Registry who participated in a 1992 telephone administration of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule Version 3 Revised. Genetic model fitting was performed to estimate the magnitude and correlation of genetic and environmental contributions to lifetime nicotine and alcohol dependence. RESULTS: The heritability of nicotine dependence was 60.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.4%-65.2%); that of alcohol dependence, 55.1% (95% CI, 49.7%-60.5%). The best-fitting model for the co-occurrence of lifetime nicotine and alcohol dependence included a substantial genetic correlation between both disorders (r = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.61-0.74) and a modest unique environmental correlation (r = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.14-0.32). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a common genetic vulnerability to nicotine and alcohol dependence in men. This common genetic influence may partially explain the clinical and epidemiological observations that alcoholics are often dependent smokers.
BACKGROUND:Nicotine and alcohol dependence often occur together. We examined data from male twin pairs to determine whether there are genetic or environmental influences common to nicotine and alcohol dependence, and, if so, to estimate the magnitude and correlation of these influences. METHODS: Subjects were 3356 male-male twin-pair members of the Vietnam Era Twin Registry who participated in a 1992 telephone administration of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule Version 3 Revised. Genetic model fitting was performed to estimate the magnitude and correlation of genetic and environmental contributions to lifetime nicotine and alcohol dependence. RESULTS: The heritability of nicotine dependence was 60.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 55.4%-65.2%); that of alcohol dependence, 55.1% (95% CI, 49.7%-60.5%). The best-fitting model for the co-occurrence of lifetime nicotine and alcohol dependence included a substantial genetic correlation between both disorders (r = 0.68; 95% CI, 0.61-0.74) and a modest unique environmental correlation (r = 0.23; 95% CI, 0.14-0.32). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a common genetic vulnerability to nicotine and alcohol dependence in men. This common genetic influence may partially explain the clinical and epidemiological observations that alcoholics are often dependent smokers.
Authors: Cassandra A Slater; Asti Jackson; Pretal P Muldoon; Anton Dawson; Megan O'Brien; Lindsey G Soll; Rehab Abdullah; F Ivy Carroll; Andrew R Tapper; Michael F Miles; Matthew L Banks; Jill C Bettinger; Imad M Damaj Journal: Alcohol Clin Exp Res Date: 2016-01 Impact factor: 3.455
Authors: N Carmiol; J M Peralta; L Almasy; J Contreras; A Pacheco; M A Escamilla; E E M Knowles; H Raventós; D C Glahn Journal: Eur Psychiatry Date: 2013-12-08 Impact factor: 5.361
Authors: Bo Xiang; Bao-Zhu Yang; Hang Zhou; Henry Kranzler; Joel Gelernter Journal: Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet Date: 2018-11-28 Impact factor: 3.568
Authors: Sheketha R Hauser; Amy L Bracken; Gerald A Deehan; Jamie E Toalston; Zheng-Ming Ding; William A Truitt; Richard L Bell; William J McBride; Zachary A Rodd Journal: Addict Biol Date: 2013-03-18 Impact factor: 4.280