We propose to 30vestigate neurobiological indicators (auditory and visual Event-R31ated Potentials, personality variants, iconic memory, vigila32e, Category Errors) of alcoholism risk in alcoholic women selected33or absence of drug dependence and other psychiatric illness, and their relatives (parents, siblings, children, and siblings' children) through use of control families without alcoholism or psychiatric illness. Secondly, we will study the transmission of alcoholism within families of alcoholic women during presence or absence of alcoholism of relatives to determine if: (1) alcoholism is a heterogeneous disorder in women; (2) the mode of transmission is multifactorial or gives evidence for a major gene as well; and (3) path analytic techniques give evidence for specific multifactorial inheritance (i.e., the Environmental Model, Daughter Effects, Cross Sex Effects). We propose to ascertain nuclear families through a pair of female alcoholic probands, providing a large number of nuclear families with which to uncover possible neurobiological indicators of risk. Extended pedigrees will provide data for path and segregation analysis. From these analyses, we can describe the mode of inheritance and quantify the lifetime risk for developing alcoholism among these children of alcoholic mothers. With follow-up during subsequent investigations, we can confirm whether or not our predictions for specific children are correct. Further exploration of neurobehavioral deficits in children of alcoholics will be accomplished using the children's psychiatric status, measures of ERP (both auditory and visual are currently implemented in our laboratory), vigilance, iconic memory, and neurological functioning including static ataxia.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AA008029-03
Application #
3111946
Study Section
Biochemistry, Physiology and Medicine Subcommittee (ALCB)
Project Start
1989-07-01
Project End
1993-06-30
Budget Start
1991-07-01
Budget End
1992-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1991
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Rosalind Franklin University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
069501252
City
North Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60064
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