Common Genetic Origins for EEG, Alcoholism and Anxiety: The Role of CRH-BP
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Study at a glance
- Area
- Addiction
- Study type
- Observational study
- Authors
- Enoch MA, Shen PH, Ducci F, Yuan Q, Liu J, White KV, Albaugh B, Hodgkinson CA, Goldman D
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- Year
- 2008
- Participants
- 328 Plains American Indians, plus a replication sample of 188 Caucasians
- Protocol
- resting EEG with genome-wide linkage and association analysis
Key findings
- Alpha, theta and beta power were heritable (0.27-0.58) and stable over 2 years (r = 0.53-0.82)
- Linkage peaks for all three bands converged on chromosome 5q13-14, with a logarithm of odds (LOD) score of 3.5 for alpha and beta power
- CRH-BP was associated with alpha power in both the Plains Indian and Caucasian samples
- The same CRH-BP variants were associated with anxiety disorders in Plains Indians and alcohol use disorders in Caucasians
A genetic study of the resting EEG as a marker for arousal-related conditions such as anxiety and alcoholism. Researchers ran a whole-genome linkage scan in a large family pedigree of 328 Plains American Indians and checked results in 188 Caucasians. EEG power was heritable and stable over two years, and linkage peaks pointed to the gene for corticotropin releasing hormone-binding protein (CRH-BP), a regulator of the stress response. The authors suggest CRH-BP plays a role in stress-related alcoholism.