Articles tagged with Alcoholism
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Researchers evaluated saccadic performance in adults with a family history of alcoholism, finding they were slower than those without a history. The study suggests that adaptive response to alcohol is associated with a family-history status known to be associated with genetic influence on alcoholism risk.
A study found that light to moderate drinking during pregnancy can lead to growth deficits in adolescents, affecting their weight, height, and head circumference. The researchers also identified a dose-response relation between gestational exposure and growth deficits, with effects seen even at low levels of alcohol consumption.
A recent study has identified a rare gene variant, ADH2*2, as a protective factor against alcohol dependence in Jewish individuals. Those with the variant gene tend to drink less frequently and experience more unpleasant reactions to alcohol.
A new study found that moderate alcohol consumption increases levels of good cholesterol, reduces inflammation, and protects against heart disease in post-menopausal women. The research suggests that drinking in moderation may be beneficial for women's heart health after menopause, similar to men.
A study found that naltrexone significantly reduced relapse rates among Spanish patients with a Mediterranean drinking pattern, demonstrating its effectiveness when combined with psycho-social intervention. The results suggest that naltrexone can be a suitable treatment option for European alcohol-dependent patients.
Researchers found that women married to alcoholics are more likely to meet criteria for alcoholism themselves, use illicit drugs, and be current smokers. The study also suggests that understanding the mother's characteristics is crucial in interpreting the father's AUDs.
Researchers found that individuals with a family history of alcoholism reported greater feelings of intoxication initially, but quickly adapted and developed acute tolerance to alcohol. This suggests that genetic factors may contribute to the development of tolerance, potentially increasing drinking habits in those with a family history.
A study by Sandra L. Morzorati found that individuals with a family history of alcoholism exhibit greater feelings of intoxication after consuming alcohol, but adapt quickly to its effects. This adaptation may lead to increased drinking in people with a family history of the disease.
Researchers found that adenylyl cyclase activity levels were more sensitive to recent alcohol consumption in subjects with a family history of alcoholism. Chronic marijuana users had substantially higher adenylyl cyclase activity levels, suggesting possible abnormal metabolism or product of marijuana use.
Research found that heavy drinkers exhibit a 'biphasic' response to alcohol, experiencing increased stimulation and euphoria during rising blood alcohol concentrations, but sedation and fatigue during declining levels. In contrast, light drinkers showed only sedation and no positive mood changes.
Scientists have identified several genes that affect how much alcohol reaches the brain and how long it remains there, shedding light on individual differences in alcohol metabolism. The findings could lead to new treatments for alcoholism and highlight the importance of further research into the genetic factors involved.
Researchers examined abstinent alcoholics and healthy controls to investigate motor functioning, finding impaired limb movements, gait, and postural stability. Alcoholic men showed slower movement speeds and jerky movements, while women displayed less impairment but still struggled with postural instability.
A new study confirms that binge drinking can cause neuronal damage in the brain. Damage to the olfactory bulb occurred after just two days of 'binge drinking', while other regions were damaged after four days. The study suggests that alcohol-induced brain damage occurs during intoxication, not withdrawal.
A study found that nearly 16% of alcoholics had attempted suicide, and first-degree relatives of those who attempted suicide were more likely to have made attempts as well. The risk factors included a history of severe alcohol dependence and psychiatric disorders.
New research examines how managed care affects access to alcohol and drug treatment, highlighting the need for clear guidelines and accountability. Studies show that prior authorization requirements can set up barriers to timely treatment and that longer retention rates are associated with more positive outcomes.
Scientists have identified a specific genetic locus associated with fundamental human brain oscillations, contributing to the understanding of brain neuroelectric activity and providing new insights into alcoholism risk. The study found an association between beta EEG frequencies and a cluster of genes located on chromosome 4.
Researchers will explore neuroadaptation, reinforcement, tolerance, sensitization, withdrawal, and relapse to improve treatment and preventive interventions. The INIA consortium aims to clarify the molecular and cellular underpinnings of excessive drinking behavior.
Research suggests that chronic alcohol consumption leads to long-lasting brain changes that promote relapse. Stressful cues and environmental triggers also contribute to relapse drinking. Understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective treatments, such as medications and behavioral therapies.
A study found that alcoholic women exhibit impaired working memory and visuospatial abilities, which remain significant even after abstinence. The researchers also discovered that female hormones may offer some protection against these impairments.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that the ADH2*3 allele may be associated with a lowered risk for developing alcoholism in young African American adults. The allele, which is prevalent among people of African descent, has been linked to faster and more efficient alcohol metabolism.
A comprehensive program combining naltrexone, communication skills training, and cue exposure training significantly reduced heavy drinking days and urges to drink. Patients who received the communications and coping skills training were less likely to report a relapse day.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers have found evidence that alcohol inhibits the actions of key proteins called N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors in specific regions of the brain. This new interaction affects brain regions involved in memory formation and higher mental functions.
Researchers found that individuals who took naltrexone for at least two months had fewer heavy drinking days and urges to drink, while coping skills training provided lasting benefits in reducing relapse severity.
A study found that individuals with the ALDH2 gene tend to have a stronger unpleasant response to alcohol, which may reduce high-risk expectancies. This genetic factor influences what people learn about the benefits of drinking, particularly in men.
The Combining Medications and Behavioral Interventions (COMBINE) study evaluates the effectiveness of behavioral treatments alone and in combination with medications for treating alcoholism. Researchers at Yale University are recruiting participants to participate in the study.
Research suggests a genetic polymorphism in neuropeptide Y may decrease risk of Type I and II alcoholism, a surprise finding that challenges previous expectations. The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, found the Pro(7) substitution to be associated with lower rates of alcohol dependence.
Research found that knocking out delta opioid receptor increased anxiety and led to increased drinking behavior in mice. The study suggests a potential link between the endogenous opioid system, stress, and alcohol consumption.
Researchers developed a gene therapy that increased D2 receptor levels in rats, leading to a significant drop in alcohol intake. The treatment showed promise in reducing drinking preference and behavior in both groups of rats.
Researchers found that an early AFD is associated with increased rates of substance abuse, mental health problems, and educational underachievement. Early drinking is also linked to genetic risk for disinhibitory behaviors, suggesting it may be a symptom rather than a cause of alcoholism.
Research at the University of Minnesota suggests that early drinking is a symptom of an underlying predisposition to alcoholism and other behavioral problems. Early drinkers are more likely to experience drug abuse, delinquency, antisocial behavior, and decreased educational attainment.
The study found that the nucleus accumbens responds proportionally to increasing rewards but not punishments, linking reward-related feelings to this brain area. Increasing reward cues evoked increasing self-rated happiness and nucleus accumbens activity.
Research finds a link between family history of alcoholism, serotonin variation, and behavioral problems in children. Children with a genetic variant associated with increased serotonin reuptake are more likely to exhibit impulsivity, depression, and anxiety.
Researchers used gene array technology to analyze brain gene expression in human alcoholism, identifying extensive reprogramming of the frontal cortex. This study provides insight into the molecular neurocircuitry altered by chronic alcohol abuse, shedding light on tolerance, dependence, and neurotoxicity.
Researchers found that smokers with a past history of alcoholism have increased nicotine self-administration and rewarding effects, suggesting a link between the two addictive behaviors. The study suggests that medications to block nicotine dependence and counseling may be effective in helping these individuals quit smoking.
Researchers at UNC-CH have found a strong correlation between men's preference for sweet tastes and whether their twin brothers liked sweets too. The study suggests that genes may be linked to the urge to drink alcohol.
A recent study found that 57% of women who drank in bars reported experiencing verbal or physical aggression. Women should be aware of their own risky behaviors and the bar environment's impact on aggression.
A recent study suggests that naltrexone's effectiveness in treating alcoholism may be influenced by individual metabolism. Measuring blood levels of the medication's major metabolite, 6-beta-naltrexol, may help determine the optimal dosage for each patient. This approach could lead to better treatment outcomes and reduced relapse rates.
A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that ondansetron, a serotonin-based medication, reduced drinks per day and increased abstinence rates in patients with early-onset alcoholism. The researchers suggest that ondansetron may ameliorate an inherited serotonergic abnormality in this subtype.
A recent study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that binge-pattern exposure to alcohol during adolescence can disrupt working memory and make the brain more vulnerable to cell death. The study suggests that teenagers who drink heavily and often may be especially susceptible to the neurobehavioral effects ...
A study examining the link between fathers' alcoholism and male, elementary-school-aged children's intellectual, cognitive, and academic performance reveals children of antisocial alcoholics display lower intellectual performance, poorest academic achievement, and poorer abstract planning and attention abilities. Parental cognitive abi...
University of Wisconsin researchers discover that environmental cues associated with drug use can produce profound molecular changes in brain circuits linked to learning and decision-making. The study suggests that long-term changes may persist in critical areas, particularly in people who self-administered drugs for long periods of time.
A study discovered a link between lower platelet adenylyl cyclase activity and increased risk of alcoholism. Recent alcohol consumption was found to be a confounding variable, and other factors such as major depression and hyperlipidemia were also associated with low AC activity.
Researchers discovered a sub-group of alcoholics who self-medicate low serotonin levels with carbohydrates when not drinking. Carbohydrates increase serotonin levels, similar to alcohol, and this study provides insight into treating alcoholics with disturbed serotonergic function.
Research confirms association between African-American ethnicity, long-term alcohol dependence, and increased risk for infectious diseases. African-American alcoholics show greatest decline in natural-killer cell activity, indicating compromised immune system.
A study published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found that beta-endorphin levels are heritable and can predict an individual's risk of developing alcoholism. The research suggests that the hormone may be used as a biomarker to identify specific individuals at high genetic risk.
A recent study found that nicotine increases alcohol consumption and may require simultaneous treatment for addiction. Nicotine activates the brain's nicotinic receptors, leading to dopamine release, similar to alcohol consumption.
According to a NIH/NIAAA study, approximately 28.6% of U.S. children are exposed to familial alcohol dependence or abuse before age 18. Children of alcoholics face increased risk of psychopathology and medical problems, including an increased risk for developing alcohol abuse or alcoholism.
A recent study found that younger people are both drinking and developing alcohol problems at an earlier age. Those who develop alcoholism early in life have greater social and legal problems. The study also showed a strong association between early use of substances and later-in-life alcohol-use disorders, depression, and multiple hea...
Researchers in Taiwan discovered a rare individual with two copies of the genetic mutation that protects against alcoholism. This finding challenges the long-held assumption that individuals with this mutation are immune to developing alcohol disorders.
Researchers found that chronic alcohol abuse in late adulthood damages Purkinje neurons by reducing message traffic between neurons, but the damage is mostly reversible. The study also suggests a connection between alcohol-induced brain changes and abnormal movements seen in alcoholics, such as unsteady gait and tremors.
A new study from Washington University in St. Louis reveals a clear tendency among college students to become addicted to more than one common substance or activity, with exercise yielding the highest level of addiction and strong connections between certain activities and self-esteem. The study found large correlations within and betw...
Researchers found that alcohol sensitizes dopamine and serotonin neurons, leading to excitotoxicity and neuronal damage. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may protect against this excitotoxicity, suggesting a potential treatment for alcoholics undergoing withdrawal.
A recent study found that the majority of Americans with alcoholism do not receive treatment, highlighting a significant gap in care. The research identified distinct characteristics among those who did receive treatment, suggesting that treatment options may need to be tailored to address specific needs.
Heavy drinking depletes dopamine, gamma aminobutyric acid, opioid peptides and serotonin systems, while promoting stress chemicals like corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). This imbalance leaves alcoholics vulnerable to relapse after stopping drinking.
A symposium on treating drug addiction will feature four new studies on the chemistry of addictions, including an antibody-based drug to prevent PCP abuse and a non-addictive medication for cocaine addicts. The research aims to understand the brain chemistry behind addiction and develop effective treatments.
Researchers investigate ways to prevent brain cell death, explore the role of vitamin C in stress reduction, and develop new fibers with antimicrobial properties. The study also sheds light on children's exposure to environmental contaminants and potential indicators for future health problems.
The UCSF Family Alcoholism Study aims to investigate the links between behavior, personality characteristics, and biological factors associated with alcoholism. The nationwide project enrolls heavy drinkers and recovering addicts with a family member participating, using telephone interviews, personality tests, and genetic analysis.
Researchers discovered that children of alcoholics have lower natural opioid activity in the brain, making them more susceptible to addiction. This difference may alter the brain's reward pathway and response to stress, increasing vulnerability to alcoholism.
The Institute for Coffee Studies will investigate the effects of coffee on the brain, depression, and alcohol dependency. Researchers aim to identify potential medicinal compounds in coffee that could benefit human health, with a focus on chlorogenic acids and their impact on neurotransmitter systems.
The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse has awarded a $7 million grant to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to study the causes of alcohol addiction. The studies will provide insights into brain processes that lead to alcoholism, with a focus on understanding the fundamental actions of alcohol on the brain.