Drinking alcohol for a long time can change the brain, especially in the "bed nucleus of the stria terminalis", an important area for stress and alcohol use.
Scientists found that a peptide called pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide is linked to heavy drinking.
Their new discovery can change the problem of heavy drinking forever.
Alcohol is a problem
In the U.S., alcohol causes problems like $250 billion in costs and around 88,000 deaths each year, along with various health and social issues.
Over 14 million people in the U.S. have alcohol use disorder, a serious and recurring problem, but only three somewhat effective treatments are available.
A new experiment
In a study involving a model for heavy drinking, scientists observed increased levels of the stress peptide PACAP in the BNST during withdrawal.
Additionally, they identified elevated levels of another stress peptide associated with PACAP, known as calcitonin gene-related peptide.
Despite both peptides being connected to stress and pain sensitivity, their exact roles in alcohol addiction remain unclear.
To investigate further, researchers utilized a virus in the model to block the pathways specifically carrying PACAP to the BNST.
This intervention notably decreased heavy ethanol drinking, suggesting that PACAP plays a pivotal role in alcohol addiction.
The scientists propose that targeting PACAP could pave the way for innovative treatments for heavy drinking.
Previously, we've talked about manipulations.
