The work reviewed herein provides evidence that DNA methylation may play an important role in AUDs via regulation of gene transcription. Even though there are many challenges in the study of the epigenetic mechanisms of AUDs, the advances of new technologies for DNA methylomic profiling, the availability of postmortem brain tissues, stem cell technology could improve our knowledge regarding the cause and function of DNA methylation changes in the risk for AUDs. We also look forward to the development of novel approaches that can provide new ways to address the methodological limitations discussed in this article.
