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I’ve also reported on alcohol a number of times. Most recently reporting that even low quantities of alcohol appear to age the brain (however, higher quantities are much worse).
Researchers had previously found that a signalling molecule pathway in the brain seemed to affect addiction and withdrawal from alcohol. But a team of researchers at Scripps Research Institute have found that activating this, in mice at least, did not impact their withdrawal symptoms.
Yes, they do get mice drunk and addicted on alcohol for this research! So, the search is now on to find the precise mechanisms that control withdrawal symptoms. This has many obvious benefits apart from a clearer understanding of withdrawal in general and ways to manage this.
For me I just found it fascinating that this was researched in the first place and that addiction and withdrawal can be controlled by different mechanisms in the brain.
Reference:
Max Kreifeldt, Melissa A. Herman, Harpreet Sidhu, Agbonlahor Okhuarobo, Giovana C. Macedo, Roxana Shahryari, Pauravi J. Gandhi, Marisa Roberto, Candice Contet.
Central amygdala corticotropin-releasing factor neurons promote hyponeophagia but do not control alcohol drinking in mice.
Molecular Psychiatry, 2022
DOI: 10.1038/s41380–022–01496–9
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Andy is author of leading brains Review a monthly e-magazine on all things the brain, behaviour, and business.
