regional medical center: Genetics Alter Ability To Quit Smoking

Genetics Alter Ability To Quit Smoking

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Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Genetics
Article Date: 06 Jun 2012 - 14:00 PDT

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The American Journal of Psychiatry reveals that whether or not a person is likely to stop smoking of their own accord or whether they need medication to assist them can now be determined by genetics.

The finding could pave the way for health care providers to offer a more individualized therapy in the future to assist people in their quest to stop smoking.

NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D. declares:

â€¨â€¨"This study builds on our knowledge of genetic vulnerability to nicotine dependence, and will help us tailor smoking cessation strategies accordingly. It also highlights the potential value of genetic screening in helping to identify individuals early on and reduce their risk for tobacco addiction and its related negative health consequences."

â€¨â€¨The researchers decided to base their investigation on a cluster of nicotinic receptor genes, namely CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4, as previous study have shown that these genes are involved in nicotine dependence and heavy smoking.

Using data from an earlier study, they demonstrated that people with the high-risk nicotinic receptor gene cluster ceased to smoke, on average, 2 years later than those with the low-risk genes. The delay was due to the fact that those with the high-risk gene cluster's tobacco consumption was heavier.

A subsequent clinical trial confirmed that when treated with placebo, the likelihood of failing in their attempts to stop smoking was higher in the high-risk gene group than in those with the low-risk genes, whereas nicotine cessation drugs, like nicotine replacement therapies or bupropion, increased the high-risk group's chance of successfully quitting by a three-fold after the end of the treatment when compared with placebo. This means these drugs prove particularly beneficial in this population group.

First author, Li-Shiun Chen, M.D., of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis explained:

"We found that the effects of smoking cessation medications depend on a person's genes. If smokers have theÂ riskÂ genes, they don't quitÂ easily on their own and will benefitÂ greatly from theÂ medications. If smokers don't have the risk genes, theyÂ are likely to quit successfullyÂ without the help of medications such as nicotine replacement or bupropion."â€¨â€¨

In the US, smoking is the single most preventable cause of disease, disability and death according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDP). 440,000 deaths from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke could be prevented each year, which translated to about 1 in 5 deaths in the US overall, whilst 8.6 million suffer from a serious smoking-related illness, and even though these health costs are well-documented, there are still more than 46 million adult smokers in the U.S.

Written By Petra Rattue
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

Additional

References

Citations

"Interplay of Genetic Risk Factors (CHRNA5-CHRNA3-CHRNB4) and Cessation Treatments in Smoking Cessation Success"
Li-Shiun Chen, M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D.; Timothy B. Baker, Ph.D.; Megan E. Piper, Ph.D.; Naomi Breslau, Ph.D.; Dale S. Cannon, Ph.D.; Kimberly F. Doheny, Ph.D.; Stephanie M. Gogarten, Ph.D.; Eric O. Johnson, Ph.D.; Nancy L. Saccone, Ph.D.; Jen C. Wang, Ph.D.; Robert B. Weiss, Ph.D.; Alison M. Goate, D.Phil. and Laura Jean Bierut, M.D.
American Journal of Psychiatry, June 2012, doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11101545 Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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Rabu, 06 Juni 2012

Genetics Alter Ability To Quit Smoking

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