Help for Alcoholics by Treating Anxiety
March 10, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- New research goes to the molecular level to treat alcoholism. Researchers say they have discovered the molecular basis for the link between anxiety and alcohol addiction, which could lead to the development of new therapies for alcohol addiction.
Previous research has shown that a person with a high level of anxiety is at an increased risk of becoming an alcoholic. Alcoholics may also feel the need to continue to drink to help reduce their anxiety levels. Researchers say it is clear that there is a link between anxiety and alcoholism.
Study authors focused on the area of the brain known as the amygdale -- the part of the brain associated with emotion and anxiety. Researchers found that a protein within neurons in the amygdala controls the development of alcohol withdrawal symptoms and drinking behaviors in lab animals by changing the shape of the neurons. This change in shape affects communication between the neurons, which leads to changes in behavior.
They then broke it down further and determined a protein known as Arc and a nerve growth factor called BDNF were directly related to anxiety levels. When high levels of anxiety were present, these two decreased. But when they were restored to normal levels, the anxiety was eliminated.
Researchers say this may help doctors one day be able to control alcohol addiction by manipulating the molecular events in the brain that are associated with alcohol withdrawal.
SOURCE: The Journal of Neuroscience, 2008;28:2589-2600
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