An interaction between DAT1 and having an alcoholic father predicts serious alcohol problems in a sample of males

Citation

Vaske, Jamie; Beaver, Kevin M.; Wright, John Paul; Boisvert, Danielle; & Schnupp, Rebecca (2009). An interaction between DAT1 and having an alcoholic father predicts serious alcohol problems in a sample of males. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. vol. 104 (1-2) pp. 17-22

Abstract

The current study examines whether the dopamine transporter (DAT1) VNTR polymorphism and paternal alcoholism are related to serious alcohol problems. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), we found that the DAT1 polymorphism interacted with paternal alcoholism to predict serious alcohol problems among males. Specifically, the 10-repeat allele conferred an increase of alcohol problems only among males who also had an alcoholic father; the 10-repeat allele was unrelated to alcohol problems for males without an alcoholic father. Coefficient tests revealed that this interaction effect was stronger among African-American males. Females who possessed the 9-repeat allele were more likely to report serious alcohol problems, but this effect was not moderated by paternal alcoholism. These analyses suggest that additive and interactive effects of DAT1 and paternal alcoholism may operate differently across genders and races.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.drugalcdep.2009.01.020

Keyword(s)

Genetic Alcohol

Reference Type

Journal Article

Journal Title

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

Author(s)

Vaske, Jamie
Beaver, Kevin M.
Wright, John Paul
Boisvert, Danielle
Schnupp, Rebecca

Year Published

2009

Volume Number

104

Issue Number

1-2

Pages

17-22

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.01.020

Reference ID

1006