# Relations between alcohol use, aggression, executive function, and ADHD: a genetic analysis

> **NIH NIH F31** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · 2022 · $46,752

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Long Term Objectives: The overarching goals of this application are to (1) utilize advanced multivariate
genome-wide association study (GWAS) approaches to improve current models of the relationship between
aggression, alcohol use, executive function, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and (2) apply
improved genetic liability modeling techniques to the prediction of the changing genetic relationships among
these phenotypes in a developmentally relevant longitudinal sample. The applicant’s main career objective is to
develop a program of research integrating sophisticated statistical genetics modeling approaches with
theoretically and empirically informed models of personality, neurocognition and addiction to investigate genetic
influences on the developmental etiology of problematic drinking and related externalizing disorders.
Specific Aims: The proposed project aims to (1) Identify biological contributions and individual genomic regions
impacting multiple traits and their covariation, (2) Test causal, directional relations between aggression,
executive function, ADHD, and alcohol use, and (3) Examine longitudinal changes in genetic covariation between
phenotypes. In order to complete the proposed project, the applicant will receive extensive training in advanced
statistical methods to model genetic and phenotypic data from experts in the fields of quantitative and molecular
genetics and alcohol use, executive function, and externalizing disorder etiology. Training will be obtained via
(1) coursework, (2) conference and workshop attendance, and (3) meetings with expert consultants.
Method: To complete the abovementioned aims, the applicant will acquire relevant aggression, executive
function, ADHD and alcohol use GWAS summary statistics (discovery samples; see Table 1 in Research
Strategy section) along with genome-wide genetic and phenotypic data from a longitudinal sample of adolescents
and young adults (target sample) provided by Dr. Slutske (Consultant). Following discovery sample data
acquisitions, stratified-linkage disequilibrium score regression and GNOVA will be employed to identify biological
contributions to the heritability of each trait and their covariation. Next, these samples will be meta-analyzed to
identify the variants they share followed by downstream analyses to identify shared biological contributions. Next,
Mendelian randomization and joint association methods will be utilized to identify causal relationships among
the phenotypes. Finally, mxGREML in OpenMx will be employed to model genetic covariation between each of
the phenotypes across adolescence and young adulthood.
Significance: Results from this project will increase understanding of genetic factors contributing to the alcohol-
aggression relationship and related risk factors, and importantly will increase understanding about changes in
these relationships across a critical developmental period. Findings will also represen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10387890
- **Project number:** 1F31AA029948-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Kellyn Michelle Spychala
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $46,752
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-15 → 2024-07-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10387890

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10387890, Relations between alcohol use, aggression, executive function, and ADHD: a genetic analysis (1F31AA029948-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10387890. Licensed CC0.

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