Articles tagged with Alcoholism
A new study reveals that decreased CREB gene function in the brain's central amygdala is involved in anxiety and excessive alcohol drinking behavior. This genetic determinant creates a vulnerable neural substrate that interacts with alcohol to create abuse potential.
A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found a link between a brain protein called CREB and anxiety-related behaviors in rats. Lower levels of CREB were associated with high anxiety and increased alcohol consumption in genetically predisposed rats, suggesting that drinking may be used as a self-medication strategy.
Researchers found that rats bred to prefer alcohol showed more anxiety-like behaviors and drank more alcohol. Reduced anxiety was associated with increased CREB function, suggesting a potential target for therapy.
Researchers found that college students accurately report their alcohol consumption, contradicting previous laboratory studies suggesting they underreport. This suggests that the drinking problem remains significant, but data collection methods may need to be reevaluated.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that adolescents and young adults with AUDs have a smaller prefrontal cortex, which is associated with early-onset drinking. This may lead to difficulties in inhibiting urges, delaying gratification, and thinking clearly about the consequences of actions.
A study published in Addictive Behaviors suggests that shame, not guilt, is related to substance-abuse problems. The research found that individuals prone to shame may use alcohol and other drugs to cope with feelings of self-blame, while those who experience guilt are less likely to develop substance-use problems.
U-Iowa researchers aim to find genes and pathways that protect against toxic effects of alcohol on the fetus. The two-year study will utilize neonatal rodents to examine the role of vasoactive intestinal peptide in fetal brain development.
Study finds that repetitive tanning behavior may be linked to a kind of addiction, similar to alcoholism or drug dependency. Researchers identified UVL tanning dependence in 53% of beachgoers, suggesting why educational interventions have been unsuccessful.
A new study from the Mayo Clinic found that smokers with a history of alcoholism can quit smoking using customized nicotine replacement therapy. The study, which adjusted nicotine patch dosages based on serum cotinine levels, resulted in a tobacco abstinence rate of 51 percent.
Co-occurring anxiety disorders, particularly social phobia and panic disorder, increase the risk of relapse to drinking. Screening for these conditions is essential in alcoholism treatment settings.
The study found that gamblers and alcoholics have unique personality traits affecting their cravings, with gambling craving linked to positive emotions and alcohol craving tied to negative emotions. The research suggests that individuals with distinct emotional regulation patterns are more vulnerable to addiction.
Alcohol intake can alter circadian rhythms, influencing heart rate, blood pressure, hormone levels, and immune function. Disruptions to the 'biological clock' within the body may result in 'physiological anarchy,' with widespread pathology.
A recent study found that children who experience a low response to alcohol are at higher risk of developing alcohol dependence. The research also suggests that genetics play a significant role in the development of this trait.
Only about 0.06% of health plan members receive a diagnosis for alcohol dependence, compared to 40% for depression, 65% for diabetics, and 70% for those with hypertension. This failure to identify and treat alcohol dependence begins with inadequate screening and follow-up care.
Researchers emphasize the need for early detection and monitoring of alcohol abuse to prevent dependence issues. Emerging biomarkers, such as genetic analysis, hold promise for accurate diagnosis and treatment compliance.
A new 24-item scale measures the continuum of alcohol problems in college students, providing excellent distributional properties and retaining meaningful variance. The scale is brief, efficient, and suitable for self-assessment, surveillance, and treatment-needs change measure.
Researchers found that participants who reduced their drinking had better outcomes and were more likely to remain in treatment, suggesting that psychosocial therapies' effectiveness is linked to patient characteristics rather than attendance. The study's findings challenge the current assumption that therapy is key to treating alcoholism.
A recent study found that living near a casino increases the risk of problem gambling, with a 90% increase in odds for those within 10 miles. Social and environmental influences also play a role, with respondents from disadvantaged neighborhoods reporting higher rates of problem gambling.
The article highlights how government policy on alcohol is influenced by the night-time economy and jobs it generates, rather than careful data analysis. Binge drinkers are portrayed as folk devils, associated with noise, disorder, and violence, and are often linked to young people drunk in public places.
This study investigates the effects of alcohol on brain structure and function, highlighting permanent and transient changes due to excessive drinking. Abstinence has been shown to reverse some brain damage, including dendrite shrinkage, which may improve cognitive functions.
A new study found that even short-term chronic alcohol consumption can lead to long-lasting cognitive deficits in mice. Researchers fed mice an alcohol or sucrose diet for eight weeks, followed by a three-week withdrawal period, and found that learning and memory tests showed deficits in all types of tasks.
A study using a large U.S. population sample found that current DSM-IV criteria for alcohol-use disorder may be overly diagnostic in adolescents due to relatively infrequent drinking and shorter drinking histories. The study suggests age-specific distributions for these criteria conform to the age-specific distributions of alcohol use.
A study using computed tomography found that women's brains atrophy faster and show greater brain damage from chronic drinking than men's. Women start to drink later but develop dependence earlier and experience more severe consequences.
Researchers found that concentrated community interventions resulted in significant declines in alcohol-related fatal crashes, with 22% reductions in crashes involving BACs of 0.01% or higher. The studies also showed a 20% decline in crashes for BACs of 0.08% or higher and a 17% decline for BACs of 0.15% or higher.
A genetic study found significant associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and alcohol dependence in a Russian population. The variations were in the GABRA2 receptor subtype, which is involved in regulating brain activity and can decrease activity of the entire brain and body.
A recent study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals a concerning trend: alcohol-impaired driving episodes are increasing, with four out of five cases linked to binge drinking. The researchers stress that new strategies are needed to address this issue, including reducing binge drinking and implementing deter...
Research found that alcohol consumption increases smoking urge in light smokers, regardless of nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The desire to smoke while drinking is related to the amount of alcohol consumed during a drinking episode.
Researchers found significant associations between two SNPs and alcohol dependence in a Russian population, similar to U.S. findings. The study suggests that the GABRA2 gene influences risk for alcoholism regardless of environmental factors.
A study found that college students tend to overestimate volumes, over-pour drinks, and under-report levels of consumption. Educational feedback improves students' understanding of standard drink definitions, leading them to report a larger number of beverages consumed.
Research reveals that chronic alcohol consumption impairs the heart's protein synthesis ability in males but not females. The study found altered phosphorylation of a particular protein factor involved in protein synthesis was affected in males following prolonged ethanol consumption.
A new study at Rockefeller University shows that contingency management treatment significantly increases patient success rates and improves the morale of clinic staff and administration. The treatment method uses positive reinforcement to encourage constructive actions towards recovery.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that binge drinking negatively affects mood and cognitive performance in young adults. Females were more impaired than males on working memory and vigilance tasks. The research suggests that binge drinking may contribute to the development of alcohol dependence.
A study found that a functional variant of a histamine-metabolizing enzyme is associated with higher frequencies of the allele in alcoholics, suggesting it may increase vulnerability to alcoholism. In contrast, carriers of the Ile105 allele are protected against developing alcoholism due to lower levels of anxiety.
A study found that US college students have a similar risk of alcohol-related problems as their non-college attending peers, despite higher rates of heavy drinking. The research used data from the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse and compared the drinking habits of young adults in college to those not in college.
Research found that adolescent brain function is vulnerable to disruption from binge drinking, resulting in permanent damage. Heavy drinking during adolescence can impair problem-solving skills, working memory, and emotional reactivity, increasing the risk of mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar spectrum disorders.
Research suggests that alcohol alters gene expression in the brain, contributing to addiction symptoms like tolerance and physical dependence. Gene expression profiling has identified specific genes and pathways involved in alcohol's effects on different brain regions.
Computer-based brief interventions using elements like feedback, empathy, and personal responsibility can effectively reduce drinking. Programs such as Drinker's Check-up, e-CHUG, and MyStudentBody.com show promising results in reducing heavy drinking and negative consequences.
A 2001-2002 survey found that 25% of individuals with alcohol dependence are now dependent, 27.3% are in partial remission, and 11.8% are asymptomatic risk drinkers. The likelihood of abstinent recovery increased with age and certain factors such as marriage, family history of alcoholism, and fewer symptoms of dependence.
Research found that cigarette smoking accelerates brain damage in individuals with alcohol dependence, particularly in the frontal lobes. This can lead to compromised executive functions, problem-solving abilities, and emotional regulation. Chronic smoking also impairs neuronal viability and cell membranes in other brain regions.
A study found that individuals with the G variant of the OPRM1 gene have a greater likelihood of experiencing stronger subjective feelings from alcohol and a higher risk of developing alcohol-use disorders. This genetic difference affects how the brain responds to endogenous opiates, influencing motivation and reinforcement.
New research suggests a link between galanin and alcohol consumption, as well as its effects on food intake. Galanin was found to increase voluntary alcohol intake in rodents, but not food intake. A galanin receptor antagonist also reduced alcohol drinking, suggesting a potential role for these compounds in treating alcohol dependence.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research suggests that variants of the BDNF gene may play a role in vulnerability to alcohol withdrawal-associated delirium tremens and violence while intoxicated. The study found a significant association between the G196A polymorphism and AA genotypes/A allele frequencies in al...
A new study found that alcoholics show deficits in visuoperception and frontal executive functioning even with prolonged sobriety. Researchers assessed visuoperception and perceptual learning tasks in detoxified alcoholic men compared to control men, revealing differences in cognitive processes and memory strategies.
Binge drinking was associated with a 73% higher death rate after heart attacks compared to non-binging patients. The study also found that survivors who binged during the year prior to their heart attack were 1.91 times more likely to die of any cause in the next several years.
The study found that individuals with a family history of alcoholism were less sensitive to ketamine and exhibited altered NMDA receptor function. This suggests a genetic predisposition to vulnerability to heavy drinking in the presence of environmental and social factors.
Researchers found that more alcohol is consumed in beer form than previously believed, with a national mean alcohol content of beer ranging from 4.58% to 4.75%. This translates to approximately 10 additional standard drinks yearly for each person aged 14 or older in the US.
Research suggests that binge drinking has a detrimental effect on platelet adhesion and aggregation, leading to increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. In contrast, moderate red wine consumption may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease due to its high polyphenol count.
A recent study examined the genetic factors underlying a low response to alcohol and found potential links to several gene categories. The research suggests that these genes could play a significant role in the development of alcoholism, particularly in individuals who experience little or no effect from drinking.
A study in flies reveals that rapid and chronic tolerance operate via different neurobiological mechanisms and genes. Rapid tolerance is blocked by a drug inhibiting protein synthesis, while a fly mutant lacking octopamine shows reduced rapid tolerance.
Research suggests a combination of sweet liking and novelty seeking can predict alcoholism in individuals, particularly children of alcoholic fathers. Sweet likers with high novelty seeking are more likely to develop alcoholism due to related brain function and sensitivity to rewarding effects.
Research finds that rates of drinking among American youth have remained relatively stable since the 1990s, with high prevalence rates among 8th-12th graders. The study highlights the need for new approaches to reduce alcohol use and its associated risks.
According to a recent study, youth drinking rates have stabilized in the US since the early 1990s, with over 80% of adolescents consuming alcohol by age 12th-grader. The stable prevalence rates are concerning, highlighting the need for continued efforts to prevent underage drinking.
A study found that genetic differences are the primary cause of variation in long-term average alcohol intake. Some genes affect both intake and dependence, while others influence only dependence. The research suggests that individuals can make lifestyle choices to improve their health and reduce risk, even with a family history of hea...
Researchers found that women experiencing depressive symptoms, binge drinking, or smoking during pregnancy may be at risk for depression and alcohol use during the first postpartum year. Early identification and treatment of these comorbid conditions can benefit both mothers and children.
Researchers found that infant rats willingly ingest large amounts of highly concentrated alcohol during their first exposure, resulting in extremely high blood alcohol levels. This contrasts with adult rats and humans, who typically reject or require initiation procedures to consume alcohol.
The NESARC study reveals high rates of comorbidity between substance use disorders and independent mood and anxiety disorders. Approximately 20% of persons with a current substance use disorder experience a mood or anxiety disorder within the same time period.
A study found that Type A alcoholics who took sertraline showed improved treatment response and maintained gains after treatment ended, while Type B alcoholics did not. In contrast, Type B alcoholics experienced increased heavy drinking after receiving sertraline.
Researchers investigated acamprosate's interactions with alcohol in a six-week study. The findings suggest that acamprosate does not alter the rate of absorption or elimination of alcohol by the body, disrupting effects on performance tasks, or most mood effects. This suggests potential as a medication for treating alcoholism.
A University of Washington study found that adolescent binge drinking is linked to obesity, high blood pressure, and other health issues by age 24. The study identified four distinct patterns of binge drinking among teenagers, which can have serious effects on their health.
Research suggests moderate drinking may lower heart disease risk in older adults but increase breast cancer risk, particularly among women with family history or hormone replacement therapy. Moderate consumption also appears to reduce the risk of diabetes and metabolic syndrome.