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A new study shows that a crucial part of the brain's reward system is "blunted" in alcoholics, even after long periods of time. abstinence
The results, published recently in Molecular Psychiatry, demonstrate The first time, the number of opioids – chemicals capable of triggering feelings of happiness and reward – is less in the brains of alcohol addicts than in the control group. This follows similar findings from a previous study conducted by the Gambling Dependent Team.
The Imperial-Led Team Used Positron Emission Tomography (PET), a special type of scan that shows the chemical messengers of the brain at work, to try to better understand how the opioid system of the brain is altered by alcoholism.
Compensation Research
The opioid system of the brain plays a vital role in our sense of pleasure, pain and reward, and there is growing evidence that an imbalance of this system could support alcohol dependence. The addiction is sometimes described as a state of "deficit reward", in which individuals who are unable to derive the happiness of normally gratifying activities seek reward in the form of substance abuse.
As such, a number of treatments have been developed to target and regulate the brain's reward system, but these are not always effective. According to recent figures, three-quarters of people with alcohol dependence will relapse in the first year of treatment.
"A better understanding of the underlying brain changes associated with alcohol dependence will enable us to develop better treatments," says lead author Dr. Samuel Turton.
"It will also help us to understand which people will most likely benefit from particular treatments."
Alcohol-dependent brain exploration
To further investigate, the study team recruited a group of 13 underwent two PET exams – one before and one after after receiving a small dose of dexamphetamine, which was used to stimulate a response of the opioid system of the brain. The team also performed the same tests on a control group of 15 people.
Basically, they found that alcohol-dependent participants released significantly fewer opioids and endorphins than the control group. They also found that the reduced release rate did not seem to change even after long periods of abstinence from alcohol.
Notably, it is the first time that a lower release of opioid and endorphin has been demonstrated in alcohol dependence. Given that the findings are consistent with a previous study focused on gambling addiction, this might suggest that a weak release of opioids and endorphins is something common to many types of addictions.
However, the study does not show whether this deregulation in the brain's reward system is a direct result of alcohol addiction, or is something that is present before developing an addiction. It is not yet known whether releasing fewer opioids and endorphins is linked to an increased risk of relapse.
Next Steps
Commenting on the limitations of the study, Dr. Turton said, "Additional research is needed to answer some of the key questions that emerged from this survey."
"We now seek to clarify whether the release of endorphin and opioids is also present in individuals who are at higher risk of developing alcohol or gambling addiction, so to understand if this could be a pre-existing factor. "
" We will also investigate whether this deregulation in the brain's reward system is common in other addictions, how it relates to the risk of relapse and how it might affect the use of different treatments for alcohol. "
'Release of blunted endogenous opioids following oral challenge with dexamphetamine Dependent individuals' from Samuel Turton et al. , is published in Molecular Psychiatry.
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