As with any genetic associations, our findings will require additional replication and functional validation. However, the present study shows the potential of GWAS meta-analyses of longitudinal data to discover genes and pathways that mediate developmental trends in alcohol consumption. A better understanding of these biological mechanisms and the roles of specific polymorphisms may facilitate the development of improved biomarker-based approaches to personalize substance abuse treatment. It is hoped that this research will eventually contribute to reducing the global health burden of substance abuse by facilitating identification of novel mechanisms, biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
