Genetics of alcoholism: effects of migration on concordance rates among male twins

Alcohol Alcohol Suppl. 1991:1:137-40.

Abstract

We have extended linkage of the population-based Finnish Twin Cohort to alcohol-related hospital discharge data through 1985. The sample included 10,680 individual male twins > or = age 30 at time of linkage; 269 of these twins (2.5%) had received an alcohol-related hospital diagnosis. Twin analyses confirm significant genetic variance in alcohol-related disorders, but suggest that concordance for these disorders is greater for twins living within limited geographic areas, perhaps due to restricted social mobility among those who abuse alcohol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Alcoholism / etiology
  • Alcoholism / genetics*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Demography
  • Diseases in Twins / epidemiology
  • Diseases in Twins / genetics*
  • Environment
  • Finland / epidemiology
  • Genetic Linkage
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Twins, Dizygotic
  • Twins, Monozygotic