Posted on 09/05/2015 3:11:58 PM PDT by UnwashedPeasant
Blocking D1 receptors in brain blocks alcohol cravings: study.
Scientists say a cure for alcoholism could be on the horizon thanks to the remarkable discovery of neurons in the brain that play a role in whether one glass of wine turns into a bottle. Texas A&M researchers explain the part of your brain known as the dorsomedial striatum contains neurons with spiny protrusions, each with two types of dopamine receptors. One type, called D1, encourages action but is structurally altered when large amounts of alcohol are consumed. The alteration causes the neurons to activate with less stimulation and the result is a vicious circle: Drinking alcohol causes easier activation and activation tells your brain to keep drinking. "If these neurons are excited, you will want to drink alcohol," lead author Jun Wang explains in a release. "You'll have a craving."
The study in the Journal of Neuroscience explains mice brains exposed to booze had more mature protrusions in D1 neurons compared to brains that weren't exposed to the stuff. Mice with more mature protrusions—where long-term memories are stored—downed large amounts of alcohol when given the chance. However, when the mice were given a drug to block the D1 receptor, cravings diminished. "This is the major finding," says Wang. "D1 receptors are essential for alcohol consumption" and "if we suppress this activity, we're able to suppress alcohol consumption." Wang adds his "ultimate goal is to understand how the addicted brain works … and once we do, one day, we'll be able to suppress the craving for another round of drinks and ultimately, stop the cycle of alcoholism." (Get to know history's most high-functioning alcoholics.)
If the drug is harmless, I would like to see it added to alcohol products.
See also reader comments.
But ... But I enjoy mah Beer!
The reason drugs have side effects in some people and not in others is the body uses the same mechanisms over and over to do different things so non-targeted nerves are equally affected. The other reason is people’s nerves are slightly different from each other in nerve density and layout. Sort of like some trees have lots of branches and loads of leaves and others of the same species have fewer branches and fewer leaves. You probably know somebody who salts the heck out of his food and can drink hot sauce from the bottle while others never salt their food and can’t bear hot sauce. Those preferences are likely caused by different nerve density or layout.
The article above links to this other article that is longer and more informative:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150902155642.htm
The cure already exists. It is called abstinence. Will also work fro drug addiction, sex addiction, gambling addiction, tobacco addiction and all other so-called “addictions” that can simply be cured by NOT DOING THEM.
Stupid freaking concept that you need a “cure” for addiction.
“Dr. it hurts when I do this!”
“Don’t do that.”
Yeah. It is that simple.
I’m buzzed on half a glass, so I don’t have to worry about drinking a bottle.
This will likely go nowhere. Too many people making obscene amounts of money from alcoholism.
Nature abhors vacuums and so does spirit.
Will it help the Injuns?
I’m an alcoholic who hasn’t had a drink in 15 years. Gosh, I never would have thought it possible when I was drinking, but I like being sober.
Huh?
Put a guy on a desert island. Food shelter and clothing. No alcohol and no means of making any. No way to get high. Is he still an alcoholic? No. Chances are he won’t drive dunk, get arrested, beat up someone cause they “looked at him wrong” or do all kinds of shit he don’t remember. Those or any of the other genius moves drunks make. Alcoholism is an industry, not a disease.
Don’t want to be an alcoholic? Don’t drink.
Don’t want to have MS anymore? Tough shit.
That there is the difference. Will he live longer? Probably not. But it will seem like it.
Bwahahahahahaha.
For those who have addictive personalities, the only sure-fire way to stop is to never have tried. If that person has tried what is addicting to him, his first try could be the last.
It’s not a simple matter of not doing it, because the discomfort of abstention is just too great for some.
With 21 years and 7 months sober today, I am skeptical of solutions other than abstinence.
If there was a drug that I could take to reduce the craving for the next drink, I am better off not having the first drink.
Too funny....They are finally proving what the Doctor’s Opinion has stated for 80n years
It is and obession of the mind and an allergy of the body. Once the craving starts alcoholics do no react like normal drinkers.
Every drunk I know can testify to that fact.
There is another way out
The buzz is about its mechanism of action, which is unique among currently approved antipsychotics. Rather than being a dopamine blocker, it is a “dopamine system stabilizer”.
http://pro.psychcentral.com/abilify-the-perfect-antipsychotic/001493.html
When I lived in Hong Kong I knew a bunch of British Ex-pats. Every one of them was an aspiring alcoholic.
To them this study would be horrific because it would remove their preferred career choice.
If only there were a pill to cure addiction...
For some, it’s not a craving for the drink but a desire to be free from the noise in their heads. Alcohol deadens that.
That career choice ends in either death, jail, or institutions.
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