Are Genes or Lifestyle Factors Responsible for the Link Between Alcohol Use and Depression?
It’s not clear yet whether depression triggers alcohol abuse or vice versa, but it’s very likely that they share common triggers. Studies of twins have shown that the same factors that contribute to heavy drinking in families also contribute to the risk for major depression. Researchers have been searching for a common gene or genes that might lie behind both conditions. They have pinpointed at least one — a variant of the gene CHRM2 — that is involved in several important brain functions, including memory and attention. Variations in this gene might put people at risk for alcohol dependence and depression. A person’s home and social environment also can play a big role in determining whether they will develop both depression and a drinking problem. Children who have been abused or who were raised in poverty appear to be more likely to develop both conditions.
