In conclusion, polygenic scores from a large-scale GWAS of drinks per week predicted levels of alcohol use and misuse among a sample of young adults. However, this association between genetic risk and problematic patterns of use changed as a function of the environment. Individuals at greater genetic risk who were in romantic relationships were less likely to misuse alcohol. For drinking to intoxication, this interaction appears to occur primarily among males. This finding is consistent with previous research findings on social determinants of health that men tend to over-benefit from romantic partnerships [32]. This research underscores the importance of considering the interplay between genes and environment when considering etiology and intervention for problematic alcohol use.
