Alcohol and Alcoholism Advance Access published online on August 4, 2009
Alcohol and Alcoholism, doi:10.1093/alcalc/agp041
Dopamine D2 Receptor Genotype Is Associated with Increased Mortality at a 10-Year Follow-up of Alcohol-Dependent Individuals
1 Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Sweden
2 Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, Sweden
3 Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
4 Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Science, University of Oslo, Norway
* Corresponding author: Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, PO Box 500, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel: +46-31-7864289; Fax: +46-31-7864628; E-mail: Claudia.Fahlke{at}psy.gu.se
Received 18 April 2009; first review notified 14 May 2009; in revised form 13 July 2009; accepted 13 July 2009
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Abstract |
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Aims: Because the TAQ1 A1 allele may be associated with alcohol-related medical illnesses, and medical illnesses in alcohol-dependent individuals are associated with increased mortality, we test the hypothesis that the TAQ1 A1 allele of the DRD2 gene is associated with increased mortality in alcohol-dependent individuals. Methods: Following an index treatment episode, a 10-year follow-up study in 366 alcohol-dependent individuals was performed. The TAQ1 A1/A2 DRD2 genotype and allele frequencies were compared between those deceased and those still living at the 10-year point. In addition, the genotype and allele frequencies of these alcohol-dependent individuals were compared to that in 578 control subjects. Results: The prevalence of the A1 allele differed between the deceased and living patients and the controls: 47% of the deceased were A1+, compared to 37% of the living patients and 32% of the controls. The frequency of the TAQ1 A1/A2 genotype also differed between the groups. Thus, 43% had the A1/A2 genotype in comparison with 32% in the living patients and 29% in the controls. The TAQ 1 A1 allele frequency differed between the groups. The frequency of A1 allele was 25% in the deceased patients compared to 21% in the living patients and 17% in the controls. Conclusion: The TAQ I A1 allele of the DRD2 gene (or DRD2 gene region) was associated with increased mortality over a 10-year period in alcohol-dependent individuals.