These findings provide preliminary evidence that allelic variation in DRD2 may influence impulsiveness by increasing the propensity for attentional lapses.
The relationship of the DRD2 TaqI-A1 allele to hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children and adolescents was examined in a sample of clinic-referred children and their siblings, and control children and their siblings (n = 236).
These results suggest that genetic variants at the DRD2 gene play a role in pathological gambling, and support the concept that variants of this gene are a risk factor for impulsive and addictive behaviours.
The possible mechanism of a genetic effect of the DRD2 locus in alcoholism remains open to speculation, but many involve personality characteristics such as impulsiveness or spontaneity.