ALDH2 and alcohol dependence: In the presence of alcohol dependence or at lower levels of alcohol use, individuals with ALDH2*2 alleles are more vulnerable to alcohol-related pathologies—particularly head and neck cancers, but also liver disease, pancreatitis, and Alzheimer’s disease—consistent with a role of acetaldehyde in the pathogenesis of organ damage (Brennan et al. 2004; Brooks et al. 2009; Hao et al. 2011; Lewis and Smith 2005; Yang et al. 2010; Zhang et al. 2010; Zintzaras et al. 2006).