Scientists have discovered a gene in African Americans that increases their risk of depression and alcoholism

Researchers have found that SEMA3A, a neurological gene previously associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's, was disrupted in African Americans with dependency problems, but not in European Americans. Researchers do not yet know what in the genetic code makes it so that this disruption only impacts African Americans. SEMA3A is a gene variant involved in brain development and neuron connectivity.