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Twin Study Says Problem Gambling Genetic
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA --
A study of identical twins has led researchers to conclude that problem gambling may be genetic in nature. The study is the latest to find that compulsive gambling is more influenced by physical characteristics, such as brain chemistry, than by exposure to casino proliferation.
According to the study, published in the June issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry, scientists from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research used both identical and fraternal twins to determine which behaviors were environmental and which genetic.
Identical twins share identical genetic composition, while fraternal twins only share partial genetic makeup.
Over 4700 subjects were interviewed, along with friends and family, during the course of the study. Bout one percent of women were found to have problem gambling characteristics, while three percent of men qualified.
This is consistent with studies that have determined all populations seem to have around two percent of members carrying problem gambling symptoms. The higher number of men may also relate to connections to dopamine control in the brain of risky behavior, something likely to be genetically more disposed to appear in men.
Researchers found identical twins were more likely than fraternal twins to duplicate a twin's problem gambling symptoms, indicating a genetic condition. Common environment did not demonstrate to be causal in explaining shared and varied behaviors.
"Like alcoholism, problem gambling is a complex disorder," author Wendy Slutske stated on the subject of identifying a gambling gene. "The answer will be in a collection of genes, maybe 10 or 100, we don't know how many, but each gene will increase the risk slightly for developing those problems."
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