Could a gene lower nicotine dependence? What a CHRNB3 variant suggests
February 25, 2026 by medicalxpress.com
Could a gene lower nicotine dependence? What a CHRNB3 variant suggests
A study in Nature Communications identified a nicotine receptor gene variant linked to lower daily cigarette consumption in Mexican, East Asian, and European populations. Variants in CHRNB3 were found to decrease smoking frequency by 21% to 78%. The study highlights the potential of targeting the β3 subunit for treating nicotine addiction. Further research in larger cohorts is required to fully understand the impact of these genetic variants on smoking dependency. The findings suggest that genetic factors play a role in smoking behavior across different ancestries, indicating potential therapeutic interventions for nicotine addiction.
