Researchers at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) say they have identified genes that seem to aid abstinence among smokers who quit cigarettes.

Study authors George Uhl of NIDA and Jed Rose of the Center for Nicotine and Smoking-Cessation Research at Duke University Medical Center compared the genetic makeup of two groups of study subjects: individuals who had successfully quit smoking and those who failed to remain abstinent.

"We identified 221 genes that distinguished successful quitters from those who were unsuccessful," said Uhl. "We know the functions of about 187 of these genes, but 34 have functions that are unknown at present. We also found that at least 62 of the genes that we had previously identified as playing roles in dependence to other drugs also contribute to nicotine dependence."

"This research marks the first time we've been able to identify genes involved in the ability to quit smoking," said NIDA Director Nora D. Volkow. "It marks a movement from identifying the genetics of addiction vulnerability to identifying the genetic basis of successful abstinence. This knowledge could impact the success rate of cessation programs by helping healthcare providers choose the most appropriate treatment based on individual differences."

The study was published in the April 2, 2007 issue of the journal BMC Genetics.