NEW: Researchers found that an experimental gene therapy injected into the brains of monkeys dramatically curbed their drinking over the course of a year. This new approach could help those with alcohol abuse disorder.
the first drink or two of alcohol produces a pleasant buzz. The sensation is caused by the feel-good chemical dopamine flooding the brain’s reward system. But for some, drinking loses its euphoric effects. Chronic alcohol abuse lowers dopamine levels, and it takes heavier drinking to maintain those good feelings. Counseling, residential treatment programs, support groups, and medication can help those with alcohol use disorder, but many people relapse.
Now, Grant is among a group of US researchers who are trying a new approach: using gene therapy to reset the brain's dopamine pathway. In a study published today in the, they found that an experimental therapy injected into the brains of monkeys dramatically curbed their drinking over the course of a year.
The group’s approach involved delivering a gene that makes the GDNF protein, short for glial-derived neurotrophic factor. In previous studies, this protein has been shown to stimulate the production of dopamine. For this experiment, researchers packaged the GDNF gene into engineered viruses, which are used for their ability to carry genetic material into cells.
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