Several additional genes associated with alcohol consumption were identified through MAGMA gene-based analyses, including the gene CDYL. CDYL was also associated with alcohol consumption at the gene level and a SNP in this gene has previously shown some association with alcohol consumption in a GWAS of 47 501 Europeans.14 PDE4B was associated at the gene level and encodes a protein that regulates alcohol-induced neuroinflammation in the central nervous system.51 Animal models have shown that inhibition of PDE4B leads to reduced alcohol intake in both mice and rats.41, 42 A GWAS found ZNF512 to be associated with oral cavity cancer.43 The gene-based analysis in the present study found this gene to be associated with alcohol consumption. This is notable considering that alcohol consumption is a leading cause of oral cavity cancer, suggesting that the link between ZNF512 and alcohol consumption may underlie its association with oral cancer.
