Genes Tied to Impulse Control Play a Major Role in Addiction Risk

Genes tied to impulse control play a major role in addiction risk

Most of the genetic risk for developing a substance use disorder comes from genes that broadly affect how our brains process rewards, regulate impulses and weigh consequences—not from genes that specifically influence substance use disorder or any single drug.

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Opioid Addictions Share Genetic Roots

Researchers analyze 2.2 million genomes to show that addiction risk is primarily driven by broad genes affecting brain wiring and impulse control, not drug-specific traits.

Genes Linked to Impulse Control Significantly Influence Addiction Risk

A groundbreaking study led by researchers at Rutgers Health has unveiled pivotal insights into the genetic architecture underlying substance use disorders (SUDs). This extensive genetic investigation, incorporating data from over 2.2 million individuals, elucidates how addiction risk is predominantly influenced by genes that govern broad neurological functions rather than those specific to individual substances. The findings, published in Nature…