Genetic Base for Alcohol Addiction
A new study by researches from several universities has found that a certain genetic makeup can make some people more predisposed to severe drug and alcohol addiction. This research backs up the findings of other studies where cocaine addiction resulted in lower gray matter density in frontal parts of the brain. This is an important part of the brain for paying attention and organizing behavior.
It also showed that it can result in damage to the hippocampus, an area of the brain that's important for learning and memory. The research suggests that genes influence the severity of addiction, and also the brain damage caused by the addiction. In individuals with a certain genotype, called "low MAOA", the longer that cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes were abused, the lower gray matter was found in the hippocampus and frontal regions of the brain.