Cells responsible for alcohol cravings have been found. Free Technical Library News

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Cells responsible for alcohol cravings discovered

28.12.2022

Scientists from Sweden have discovered the cells responsible for cravings for alcohol. Studies have shown that nerve cells in the brain are responsible for alcoholism, by turning off which you can get rid of addiction.

Alcoholism is one of the most serious problems that some have been struggling with for years. An unhealthy craving for alcoholic beverages spoils the life of not only those who want to drink, but also those around them. However, recently scientists have discovered why this happens and have found a way to stop addiction, learn to say "no".

Nerve cells that are located in the brain are responsible for making a decision to drink, with often not very unpleasant and even disastrous consequences. This was found in their study by Swedish scientists from the Linköping University, led by Markus Hailing.

New work has revealed in some rodents a tendency to compulsive drinking. That is, to the pathological, not amenable to volitional control, the desire to take alcohol. In order to get a small dose of the coveted drink, the rodents had to press the lever for 12 weeks. After a while, the rats developed a habit. Then the scientists connected an electric current to the lever, and the rats began to receive it along with alcohol. Unpleasant pain scared away most of the animals, but about a third continued to press the lever, despite the pain.

It turned out that a certain group of nerve cells was to blame for the uncontrolled craving for alcohol. They are found in the amygdala, also known as the amygdala. This part of the brain is responsible for the formation of emotions, including the appearance of horror. Researchers using molecular biology turned off these cells, thereby suppressing compulsive alcoholism in rodents. The rats were again able to abstain from drinking alcohol.

It is noted that the scientists themselves did not expect how a small group of cells can give rise to alcoholism, becoming at the helm in making difficult decisions.

The researchers used rats as test subjects. During the study, experts found in animals a small group of nerve cells in the brain. These cells were responsible for the ability of rodents to limit themselves and the inability to stop in time. The first skill, as it turned out, was owned by the number of rats.

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