Scientists discover potential cure for alcoholism in the brain

Scientists in California have discovered that by observing a particular part of the brain, they could predict which mice would develop alcoholism. They also discovered that they could use light to alter the way this part of the brain works, essentially "turning off" the alcoholism.

Scientists have opened up the possibility of creating a cure for problem drinking after discovering a brain circuit that controls the compulsive consumption of alcohol.

“We’ve found [for the first time] a brain circuit that can accurately predict which mice will develop compulsive alcohol drinking weeks before the behavior starts,”

they found that the development of compulsive drinking was related to neural communication patterns between the two brain regions

the researchers used light to control the activity of the neural pathway. In a potential breakthrough discovery, they found that they were able to either increase compulsive alcohol drinking or reduce it by turning the brain circuit on or off.
Source

The alcoholic beverage industry brings in about 1.5 trillion dollars annually at present.
I'm guessing these studies and possible treatments will be bought out and put on a shelf.

originally posted by: Homefree
The alcoholic beverage industry brings in about 1.5 trillion dollars annually at present.
I'm guessing these studies and possible treatments will be bought out and put on a shelf.

Unfortunately that's a very real possibility, especially if these possible treatments might also impact the pharmaceutical company profits.

I can tell you which mice will drink alcohol. The ones humans give alcohol to. No fancy science needed.

a reply to: trollz

Fabulous info! I know of a couple of people who tried with 'all their might' to stop drinking but never succeeded. They died due to their disease/compulsion. This 'light therapy' is late for them but not for others who suffer from 'the drink'.

Great news, really. Sadly this is probably the last we'll hear of it. The industry is just too big.

originally posted by: BrianFlanders
I can tell you which mice will drink alcohol. The ones humans give alcohol to. No fancy science needed.

Ummm...Ba dump...tsch…


D'oh…





YouSir

Dear god....i spat my beer out! Damn you..cost me a round for a party foul!


a reply to: BrianFlanders

Alcohol s an anti-parasitic...the message the brain gets when we ingest it is a thumbs up because it is a medicine to our bodies...a very powerful on...hence this Alpha-Message overrides our organs when they tell us to slow down or stop drinking....our brain just keeps getting the Alpha-Message until we fall down drunk. Alcohol was never complicated to defeat....we have been lied to and farmed like Cattle.

a reply to: trollz
this great news now they need to find a cure for impulse internet buying.

in my youth experience, on a dairy farm from 6th grade on, there was no opportunity to get beer or liquor (yetch)

so the logical alternative was 'Hard Apple Cider", so getting dizzy off of Cider should have been a Sign of future alcohol addiction

corn cob pipes and puffing on corn-silk was the desperate measures we kids took up... to be 'Adult'

my tea totaler days ended when I joined the Army at 17 and guzzled 3.2 beer at On-Base 'Canteens'

rarely drink distilled liquor, prefer to be a beer=a-holic, and will continue a case-per-week till I crack 100 Years tanked

Rather than giving alcoholics a little lobotomy to keep them from drinking, why not just look for a cheaper, safer alternative to give those folks who want to take some of the sharp edges off existence? Oh, wait there already is one. At least one.

I like to think that it's everyone's individual choice as to how they want to deal with this horror of a world, and unless it hurts somebody, how they want do it is really nobody's business but theirs.

originally posted by: trollz
Scientists in California have discovered that by observing a particular part of the brain, they could predict which mice would develop alcoholism. They also discovered that they could use light to alter the way this part of the brain works, essentially "turning off" the alcoholism.

Or they could wait for 'natural selection' to kill off the hopeless offenders and let the battle hardened succeed genetically; like the French, English, Polish, Russian Mice existing as what are termed *working alcoholic vermin*.

a reply to: silo13

Not sure that a cure for addiction would be swept under the rug... it has the potential to increase profits.

Imagine alcohol, opiates, co caine, etc., with no danger of skid row and a grave? Pop a pill after a lost weekend or three and rinse repeat every so often?

Sounds rather nice... as one who has suffered his share of back riding monkeys. I sometimes want to give the little guys a ride every now and again.

originally posted by: one4all
Alcohol s an anti-parasitic...the message the brain gets when we ingest it is a thumbs up because it is a medicine to our bodies...a very powerful on...hence this Alpha-Message overrides our organs when they tell us to slow down or stop drinking....our brain just keeps getting the Alpha-Message until we fall down drunk. Alcohol was never complicated to defeat....we have been lied to and farmed like Cattle.

Oh good grief...

originally posted by: jtma508

originally posted by: one4all
Alcohol s an anti-parasitic...the message the brain gets when we ingest it is a thumbs up because it is a medicine to our bodies...a very powerful on...hence this Alpha-Message overrides our organs when they tell us to slow down or stop drinking....our brain just keeps getting the Alpha-Message until we fall down drunk. Alcohol was never complicated to defeat....we have been lied to and farmed like Cattle.

Oh good grief...

Do some research before you wag your lips.....good thing you stopped when you did.....I drank for many years...I stopped cold turkey using parasitic relief methods as the only support....approaching 2 decades alcohol free......I have several Friends and some Family who have used the same method....you should be careful with your comments you could scare away people who need help with your oppositionally defiant commentary.

originally posted by: trollz

Scientists in California have discovered that by observing a particular part of the brain, they could predict which mice would develop alcoholism. They also discovered that they could use light to alter the way this part of the brain works, essentially "turning off" the alcoholism.

I think finding a physical 'bio-marker' for alcoholism is interesting and may lead to finding such a 'marker' in humans and lead to a means of predicting who is and is not at risk of the disease.

That said - it's entirely too early to talk of a cure. Alcoholism is a disease of both mind and body and a cure, however you define it, requires more then 'just turning off' the physical pathway. Not to mention, how would you do that? What potential side effects on other physical and mental processes would it affect?

Great and very interesting research that I hope is continued, but I doubt a cure is at the end of the chain.

originally posted by: one4all
I stopped cold turkey using parasitic relief methods as the only support

Care to share?

a reply to: FyreByrd

Great and very interesting research that I hope is continued, but I doubt a cure is at the end of the chain.

Sure there is. Brain surgery. Just cut that sucker out.

originally posted by: Phage
Sure there is. Brain surgery. Just cut that sucker out.

If we cut all the lizard brains out we won't have any new lizard eye morph videos on youtube.