and neurodegeneration underlying dependence to alcohol and associated impairment of cognitive functions. An important role of the NF-κB system in alcoholism is emphasized by the recent animal transcriptome meta-analysis [78] and the human genetics findings. The NF-κB signaling pathway was found to be overrepresented in genes divergent between alcohol-preferring and nonpreferring mouse genotypes suggesting the participation of this system in establishing a high level of voluntary alcohol drinking [78]. The Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism reported evidence for association of variations in the NFKB1 (p50) gene with the risk for alcoholism (data presented at the International Narcotic Research Conference, 2005; with permission of Dr. Howard Edenberg).
