Reckless, impulsive drinking behavior is caused by a gene mutation

A new study links impulsivity to certain genetic bases.

We all have a friend or acquaintance who ce all have a friend or acquaintance who, when drinking alcohol, gets out of control and shows impulsive and reckless behavior.. A Finnish study suggests that these individuals cannot help it, as they are genetically predisposed to react this way when consuming alcohol.

A genetic mutation found in 2.2 percent of the population appears to be the cause of this problematic behavior. The genetic mutation affects the serotonergic receptor called 2B.

Still don't know what serotonin is? In the article "Serotonin: discover the effects of this hormone on your body and mind" we explain it in detail.

2.2 percent of the population has this genetic mutation.

Everyone has a different level of tolerance to alcohol, but for some individuals, just drinking a small amount of alcohol can cause them to act in a very disproportionate, impulsive, reckless and dangerous manner.

A recent research has found a Biological reason for this behavior, as a group of researchers from the University of Helsinki in Finland claim that the cause lies in a genetic mutation. In the country where this study was conducted, more than 100,000 people have this mutation.

The study confirms other research from 2010

The research was led by psychiatrist Roope Tikkanen, and concludes that mutation of a gene related to the serotonergic receptor B2 causes impulsive behavior, particularly when the individual carrier is drunk. Published by the Nature Publishing group in its journal Translational PsychiatryThe results of the research confirm an earlier study by Bevilacqua and his team, which was conducted in 2010.

For the Tikkanen study, however, the scientists used data from alcoholic patients and their relatives, collected by Mattu Virkkunen, professor emeritus of Forensic Psychiatry at the same university. In addition, the research subjects completed personality questionnaires and were interviewed face-to-face by a psychiatrist.

The discovery stems from a long-standing cooperative relationship between the Psychiatric Clinic of the University of Helsinki and the Neurogenetics Laboratory of the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, headed by Dr. David Goldman.

Not much is known about the serotonergic receptor 2B.

Tikkanen explains: "There are people who change radically when they consume alcohol and are not able to correct their behavior even though it is repeated, which did not suggest to us that this phenomenon was due to biological factors".

Very little is known about the serotonergic receptor 2B in humans, but it is thought to be related to impulsivity, which, in turn, is associated with different mental health problems. The identified mutation is present in 2.2 percent of the population, so more than 100,000 Finns are carriers.

"The impact of one gene on a complex phenomenon like this is difficult to observe. But it is possible to identify the impact of the gene mutation in the Finnish population, as our historical isolation has led to a relatively homogeneous gene pool," says Tikkanen.

Conclusions

If these results are confirmed in larger samples of subjects who suffer from serious difficulties in controlling their impulsivity, various corrective measures can be implemented. The most important and priority one is the prevention of alcohol consumption by these individuals. Other measures could be cognitive-behavioral therapy for impulse control or, ultimately, pharmacological treatment.

Apart from the effect it may have on the health of the population, the discovery of this biological mechanism may prompt further research into the role of the serotonergic 2B receptor in the human body. Further research in the neurobiological field will surely go in this direction. In addition, better knowledge about this receptor may stimulate innovation in the pharmacological world..

Finally, Tikkanen concludes: "The mutation may also be predictive of impulsive violent behavior, as we found that the prevalence of the mutation is four times higher among a population of individuals categorized as 'violent offenders. This may have implications for violence prevention and serve the legal system in decision making."