Convergent Evidence for Predispositional Effects of Brain Gray Matter Volume on Alcohol Consumption.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol use has been reliably associated with smaller subcortical and cortical regional gray matter volumes (GMVs). Whether these associations reflect shared predisposing risk factors or causal consequences of alcohol use remains poorly understood.

Methods

Data came from 3 neuroimaging samples (N = 2423), spanning childhood or adolescence to middle age, with prospective or family-based data. First, we identified replicable GMV correlates of alcohol use. Next, we used family-based and longitudinal data to test whether these associations may plausibly reflect a predispositional liability for alcohol use or a causal consequence of alcohol use. Finally, we used heritability, gene-set enrichment, and transcriptome-wide association study approaches to evaluate whether g

SUBMITTER: Baranger DAA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7412715 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature