The eyes have it: Seeking expressions of the genetic risk for developing ...( day; they are quite sensitive to alcoho...)

Researchers evaluated saccadic performance in 54 adults (27 males, 27 females) with a family history of alcoholism, and 49 adults (24 males, 25 females) without a family history of alcoholism. Participants were given alcohol and a placebo in a counter-balanced order. The alcohol was administered intravenously in order to achieve a breath alcohol concentration of 60 mg% in 20 minutes and to maintain it for 160 minutes. Saccadic eye movement was tested before each session (called baseline), and twice during the maintained level of intoxication.

The two groups showed significant overall differences in operational characteristics of the saccadic control system, both at baseline and when the brain was exposed to alcohol. Subjects with a family history of alcoholism were slightly but consistently slower than subjects without a history throughout the sessions, and appeared to "recover" baseline measures despite prolonged and constant exposure to alcohol.

"A key finding of our study is that the adaptive response of saccades to alcohol is associated with a family-history status known to be associated with a genetic influence on the risk for alcoholism," said O'Connor. In other words, brain function among those with a family history of alcoholism returned towards "normal" despite continued exposure to alcohol.

"We are still trying to learn what is actually inherited that affects the risk of alcoholism," said David Crabb, professor of medicine and of biochemistry and molecular biology at Indiana University School of Medicine. "In other words, is the inherited risk related to brain control functions? to the inability to control drinking? to the euphori
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15-Oct-2002