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Genetic origins of the association between verbal ability and alcohol dependence symptoms in young adulthood

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 June 2010

A. Latvala ,
A. Tuulio-Henriksson ,
D. M. Dick ,
E. Vuoksimaa ,
R. J. Viken ,
J. Suvisaari ,
J. Kaprio  and
R. J. Rose
A. Latvala*
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
A. Tuulio-Henriksson
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Institute of Behavioral Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland Research Department, Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland
D. M. Dick
Affiliation:
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
E. Vuoksimaa
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland
R. J. Viken
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
J. Suvisaari
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
J. Kaprio
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Institute for Molecular Medicine FIMM, Helsinki, Finland
R. J. Rose
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Finland Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: Mr A. Latvala, Department of Public Health, PO Box 41, FIN-00014University of Helsinki, Finland. (Email: antti.latvala@thl.fi)
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Abstract

Background

Cognitive deficits in alcohol dependence (AD) have been observed, poorer verbal ability being among the most consistent findings. Genetic factors influence both cognitive ability and AD, but whether these influences overlap is not known.

Method

A subset of 602 monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins from FinnTwin16, a population-based study of Finnish twins, was used to study the associations of verbal ability with DSM-III-R diagnosis and symptoms of AD, the maximum number of drinks consumed in a 24-h period, and the Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index (RAPI) scores. These twins, most of them selected for within-pair discordance or concordance for their RAPI scores at age 18.5 years, were studied with neuropsychological tests and interviewed with the Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism (SSAGA) in young adulthood (mean age 26.2 years, range 23–30 years).

Results

All alcohol problem measures were associated with lower scores on the Vocabulary subtest of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Revised (WAIS-R), a measure of verbal ability. In bivariate genetic models, Vocabulary and the alcohol problem measures had moderate heritabilities (0.54–0.72), and their covariation could be explained by correlated genetic influences (genetic correlations −0.20 to −0.31).

Conclusions

Poorer verbal ability and AD have partly overlapping biological etiology. The genetic and environmental influences on the development of cognitive abilities, alcohol problems and risk factors for AD should be studied further with prospective longitudinal designs.

Keywords

Alcohol dependencegenesverbal abilityyoung adults
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , March 2011 , pp. 641 - 651
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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