Scientists try new laser treatment to reverse alcohol cravings

Scripps scientists have succeeded in reversing the desire of alcoholic rats by using laser treatment.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 15.1 million adults in the United States suffer from substance use disorders. ;alcohol. The Scripps Research Institute, California, has already shown that the transition from occasional to alcohol-dependent consumption occurs alongside fundamental changes in cerebral signals. The cerebral signals cause intense cravings that prevent some people from controlling their consumption of alcohol.

Do CRF neurons cause cravings for alcohol?

The researchers tested the role of a subset of neurons, called corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) neurons, in alcohol-dependent rat models. They found that CRF neurons accounted for 80% of cases and studied them with optogenetics.

Reverse the cravings for alcohol

The study rats were implanted surgically with fiber optics to illuminate the CRF neurons and inactivate them.

To do this, scientists have established a baseline on the amount of drink that rats should drink before becoming dependent on alcohol. it was the equivalent of a glbad of wine or a beer for a human. They then increased the rats' consumption for several months to create an alcohol addiction.

When they removed alcohol, it caused withdrawal symptoms in rats. When they again offered the rats alcohol, they drank more than before.

However, when scientists activated lasers to disable CRF neurons, the rats returned to their pre-alcohol alcohol consumption level, meaning that the desire to drink from the Alcohol was gone. They also noticed the reduction of physical withdrawal symptoms such as tremors.

Giordano de Guglielmo, PhD, lead author of the study and researcher at Scripps Research, explained: "In this multi-disciplinary study, we have been able to characterize, target and manipulate a critical subset of neurons responsible for excessive consumption. # 39; alcohol.

The neural mechanisms of alcohol consumption

Olivier George, PhD, Associate Professor at Scripps Research and lead author of the new study, commented, "This discovery is exciting, which means we have another piece of the puzzle to explain the neural mechanism of alcohol consumption. . "

The study was published in the journal Nature Communications.