A study of monkeys by a group of scientists made it clear that there is a way for humans to get rid of alcohol addiction instantly. Experts managed to stop the alcohol consumption of animals that became addicted with a gene therapy they applied to monkeys. Let’s all take a closer look at the potential development that will be lifesaving for some segments of society.
One of the main reasons people drink and enjoy alcohol is the effect it has on the brain. The brain of an individual who consumes alcohol provides rapid synthesis of dopamine molecules, which are useful for feeling good. Consuming too much alcohol and getting the brain used to it reduces dopamine secretion over time, and as a result, more alcohol consumption is experienced. And eventually alcohol addiction begins. Here, the study on monkeys revealed that there is a quick way to eliminate this condition. At least compared to long-term treatments…
One-time gene therapy cut alcohol cravings in half!
A group of scientists working at Oregon Health and Science University in the USA used 4 rhesus macaque monkeys for research. The researchers, who made the animals alcoholic first, started to apply gene therapy in the next stage. The scientists, who spread this over a one-year period and applied gene therapy to alcoholic monkeys at certain periods and then offered alcohol again, reached a striking result. So much so that gene therapy managed to reduce alcohol cravings by 50 percent in the very first session. The treatment reached 90 percent success at the end of a one-year period.
The name that made statements on the subject was Kathleen Grant, the lead author of the research. Stating that he worked on alcohol addiction in the past, the scientist stated that he had never encountered such an effective treatment method before. “We now know how to persuade people with alcohol use disorder to stop drinking for a short time,” the researcher said. said.
So what exactly was done during this gene therapy?
Past research has revealed that a protein called GDNF causes stimuli in the brain, and this stimulus triggers dopamine production. It is precisely this protein that is the crux of the gene therapy applied to alcoholic monkeys. Experts injected genes that enable the production of the GDNF protein near the monkeys’ brainstem. These genes triggered protein production and protein triggered dopamine production. Thus, the monkeys did not need to drink alcohol. Because dopamine was secreted even if alcohol was not used.
Gene therapy is a heavy method used mostly in severe diseases such as cancer. So much so that the side effects of gene therapy include severe infections, severe immune system reactions and even cancer. Aware of this, Kathleen Grant states that the treatment method found to be effective in monkeys can only be a “last resort” for humans. Also, according to the scientist, this method should only be used on individuals who are highly addicted to alcohol.
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