Both alcoholism and obesity have genetic and behavioral components. Genetics plays an important role in determining health. Factors such as behavior also play a role in health, and we have learned that a lot of behavior is inherited. Genomics provides opportunities to explore the relationship between genes and health. Behavioral studies in mice are just beginning to provide an understanding of how genes interact with the environment to regulate behavior. In mouse studies, obesity is fairly easy to investigate because mice can eat as much as they want and it is easy to spot obesity in mice. Scientists have found genes that can cause obesity. Could these genes also play a role in alcohol drinking behavior?

Alcohol consumption is a fairly simple behavior to measure. If mice or rats or monkeys or higher primates are given a choice of water or alcohol (2-10% alcohol in water - similar to the concentration of alcohol in beer) various genetically different strains have markedly different preferences for alcohol compared to water. Some strains prefer to drink from the water tube 80-90% of the time whereas others prefer to drink from the alcohol tube 80-90% of the time. Certain rat strains have been bred to have a high alcohol preference, creating genetic models for alcoholism. The use of transgenic mice that have modifications in specific genes allow scientists to determine how genetic modification alters behaviors. This is an exciting approach to understanding the fundamentals of gene-environment-behavior interactions. Certain fundamental genes may have such pronounced effects on behaviors like consumption (alcohol or food) that they are easily measured in mice in a controlled environment.

Human behavior is much more complex and in theory we are capable of consciously regulating our behavior to healthy behaviors. Education helps; however, responses to stress, trauma and other major environmental factors can cause reactive behavior not chosen for health benefit. Addiction involves loss of control over behavior, in spite of the harm it causes. Understanding the key genes regulating alcohol consummatory behavior will lead us to key genomic mechanisms that will help unlock the mystery of addiction and complex behavior. This knowledge will lead to new ways to help people live healthier lives. Go Todd.

Our clinical efforts are directed at helping people change their unhealthy addictive behaviors. Changing behavior is difficult, particularly when there are strong genetic factors contributing to the behavior. It is important that those of us in the field recognize that changing behavior in addiction treatment is equally effective as treatments attempting to change eating behavior. It is just as difficult to get hypertensive and diabetic patients to diet and exercise as it is to get addicted people to stop taking drugs. It is difficult, but it can be done. As we understand the fundamentals that drive the genetic determinants of behavior, we should be better able to help people live healthier lives.