Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in alcohol use disorders: a potential new endophenotype?
BACKGROUND
Current effort is directed at defining new classification schemes for alcohol use disorders (AUD) based on genetic/biological, physiological, and behavioral endophenotypes.


METHODS
We describe briefly findings of in vivo brain proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H MRS) studies in AUD and propose that they be further explored and expanded regarding their value as a potential endophenotype for AUD.


RESULTS
In vivo (1)H MRS, as part of the emerging field of "imaging genomics," may provide readily accessible, objective, functionally significant and region-specific neurobiological measures that successfully link genotypes to neurocognition and to psychiatric symptomatology in relatively small patient cohorts. We discuss several functional gene variants that may affect specific (1)H MRS-detectable metabolites and provide recent data from our own work that supports the view of genetic effects on metabolite measures.


CONCLUSIONS
MRS-genetics research will not only offer clues to the functional significance and downstream effects of genetic differences in AUD, but, via monitoring and/or predicting the efficacy of pharmacological and behavioral interventions as a function of genotype, has the potential to influence future clinical management of AUD.
Meyerhoff
Dieter J
DJ
University of California San Francisco, VA Medical Center San Francisco, Center for Imaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Francisco, California 94121, USA. Dieter.Meyerhoff@ucsf.edu
Durazzo
Timothy C
TC
D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D010641:Phenotype; D011522:Protons
D011522:Protons