In a study published in the science journal Nature, an international group of scientists reported that they have found 4,000 genetic associations that have at least some influence on alcohol or tobacco consumption. The study took into account the age at which these substances began to be used, as well as the quantities that participants were consuming.
Of the three million people examined – 80% of them being of European descent – the study observed that, despite living in similar socio-economic environments, people with a greater genetic predisposition smoke more: “Individuals in the top 10% of genetic predisposition [to tobacco usage] smoke, on average, twice as many cigarettes per day as those in the bottom 10% (14 cigarettes vs. seven),” said Javier Costas, lead researcher.
The ability to predict smoking or alcohol use is much more accurate when examining people of European ancestry, as there are smaller number of samples available from other racial populations. However, the authors of the study highlight that the effects appeared in individuals from all backgrounds.
The analysis is the first step to begin identifying biological risk factors for smoking or alcoholism. By understanding them, it will be helpful to crafting public health policies. For instance, genetic variants can help predict the risk of relapse among at-risk groups of addicts.
