Adolescence and young adulthood is an extremely important developmental period, given the critical brain maturation occurring [37,38] alongside typical experimentation with alcohol and other drugs [39]. Genomically informed longitudinal, developmental AUD research incorporating measures of brain function would provide an important neurodevelopmental perspective. Given the increased risk for AUD among those with a family history of AUD, studying developmental trajectories of brain function in adolescents and young adults from families affected with AUD would enable the identification of molecular genetic factors that increase the likelihood of developing an AUD. Although there have been longitudinal studies examining alcohol use behavior and brain function in adolescents and young adults—notably in the ALSPAC study [40], ABCD study [41], and NCANDA [42]—genomically informed longitudinal AUD research incorporating measures of brain function is lacking, particularly in adolescents and young adults at high risk for AUD.
