Collaborative Studies on Genetics of Alcoholism

The Collaborative Studies on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) is a nine-center research project in the United States designed to examine the genetics involved in alcoholism. Research is conducted at University of Connecticut, Indiana University, SUNY Downstate Medical Center at Brooklyn, University of Iowa, Washington University, University of California at San Diego, Rutgers University, Southwest Foundation, and Virginia Commonwealth University. Henri Begleiter, Ph.D. and Theodore Reich, M.D. were founding PI and Co-PI of COGA since its inception. Since 1991, COGA has interviewed more than 10,000 members of families from around the United States. COGA is proud to have one of the largest and most comprehensive bodies of information in existence in this field. This information is particularly valuable because COGA has spoken with people from many backgrounds and experiences. In studying alcoholism, COGA hopes to find better ways of treating alcoholism and improving the lives of the millions of people who suffer from alcoholism. The COGA project has achieved national and international acclaim for its accomplishments, and numerous articles about the study have been published in scientific journals. This project is funded by the federal government and is one of the largest of its kind to be done in the United States.

Scientific Mission
COGA's aim is to identify the genes involved in alcoholism. There is a large body of twin-studies and adoption-studies that show that alcoholism is inherited. COGA is trying to determine more specifically how it is inherited and what genes are involved. There is no one gene that controls alcoholism, rather it is polygenetically controlled. That means, there are several different genes that influence risk factors involved in alcoholism. Examples of these risk factors include one's level of response to alcohol, a person's neuroelectrochemistry, and other psychiatric disorders, such as Antisocial Personality Disorder or clinical depression.

Interview
COGA researchers will interview subjects using the SSAGA, or Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism, specifically created for the COGA project. Each subject is asked to participate in the SSAGA, with different versions for adolescents and for parents being interviewed about their children. The SSAGA is a polydiagnostic psychiatric interview that will cover any drug or alcohol use as well as any emotional and/or medical problems the subject may have experienced. The SSAGA is designed to use diagnostic criterion from the DSM III-R, DSM IV, and ICD-10.

Blood Sample
COGA requests that their subjects provide a blood sample, which is then processed and examined at Rutgers University. Genes not only carry information about eye and skin color, but also carry vulnerability to specific diseases, and probably cause a susceptibility to alcoholism as well. COGA is attempting to find those chromosomes involved in alcoholism and have located specific loci thought to be involved.

Brain Wave
The brain wave is called an event-related potential (ERP) and is similar to an EEG. Brainwaves are monitored in a non-invasive procedure that involves placing a cap on the subject's head, similar to a bathing cap. This cap will monitor the brain's natural electrical activity and will record the brain's response when the subject is presented with various stimuli. Subjects respond to computer programs on a screen in front of them that flash various stimuli on the screen. After a significant event, or an important stimuli to which the subject is instructed to respond, there is an increase in electrical activity. COGA is investigating the P3, or P300, wavelength that occurs approximately 300 ms after the stimuli presentation. Varying amplitudes of the wave have different behavioral implications. The amplitude is fairly consistent throughout families and steady across time, suggesting an inherited component, as opposed to an environmental component.

Confidentiality
Subject's confidentiality is important to COGA. Subjects' names are never connected with the information they give. Rather, an ID number is assigned to them. COGA has also received the Confidentiality Certificate from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to protect researchers from being forced, even by court subpoena, to identify you. The Certificate adds protection only for the research information and does not mean the Secretary of DHHS approves or disapproves of the project.

Publications

 * NIAAA Overview: Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism
 * Alcoholism and Human Electrophysiology
 * Defining Alcohol-Related Phenotypes in Humans
 * New Findings in the Genetics of Alcoholism
 * The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism: An Update
 * COGA Suggests Genetic Loci for P3 Brain Wave Abnormality
 * Is There a Genetic Relationship Between Alcoholism and Depression?