Comparison with a UK BioBank GWAS study of alcohol consumption suggests that genes influencing consumption and dependence may differ (Clarke et al., 2017, 2011). The study used self-reported consumption measures and identified eight independent significantly associated loci, including replicating AHD1B, ADH1C, and ADH5 loci and two loci in KLB (Clarke et al., 2017). KLB is involved in consumption regulation and has been identified in a recent meta-analysis GWAS of European population alcohol consumption (Schumann et al., 2016). Clarke et al. additionally identified four novel loci linked to consumption but not found in dependence studies, including GCKR, CADM2, TNFRSF11A, and PXDN. The divergence of consumption and dependence suggests a fundamental involvement of the brain in driving alcohol related behavior.
