American scientists have succeeded in neutralizing alcohol dependence and the side effects of withdrawal in sick rats using laser beams.
Alcoholism kills 3.3 million people worldwide every year. Unfortunately, there are currently very few effective drugs to treat this disease. However, a new study could soon change the situation. Indeed, American scientists claim to have succeeded in reversing alcohol addiction in rats using lasers, according to their work published on March 18 in the journal NatureCommunications.
During their research, scientists from the Scripps Research Institute (USA) used lasers on rats to deactivate their neurons involved in alcohol dependence and withdrawal symptoms. This not only reduced their desire to drink but also the physical manifestations of withdrawal such as tremor. By turning off the lasers, on the other hand, the addiction returned immediately, specifies the study.
“This research identifies a specific neuronal population in a very deep region of the brain which is activated when alcohol disappears and which controls alcohol consumption in dependent rodents”, explains Olivier George, professor at the Scripps at the site Digital Trend. “What’s really exciting about these results is that we were able to control the urge to drink alcohol in highly dependent individuals with the flip of a switch,” he continues. “By implanting fiber optics deep in the brain and activating a laser that specifically inhibits these neurons, we could significantly reduce alcohol consumption and physical withdrawal symptoms,” the study enthuses.
Still years before the commercialization of an effective product for humans
Thanks to the identification of these neurons, science could develop new and more effective treatments to combat alcoholism. However, we are still a long way from marketing a product that can be used for humans. “This work requires the use of advanced technologies that are not yet licensed for use on humans so it may be 15 to 30 years before we see alcoholics with brain implants that could help them control their lack”, admits Olivier George.
In February, American researchers had already managed to identify a gene that could be used to develop a new treatment for alcoholism. Working on mice, a team of scientists from Oregon Health & Science University discovered that when they increased the levels of a certain encoded gene called GPR39 in animals, it reduced their alcohol consumption by 50 %.
Today, there are very few officially approved treatments to treat alcoholism. In France, where 10% of people are in difficulty with alcohol according to Inserm, patients are most often treated with baclofen. However, in addition to studies claiming that this drug is ineffective, many patients treated with high doses have complained of its heavy side effects (dizziness, nausea, insomnia and anxiety…). In 2017, the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) published a study leading to an “worrying” safety profile of baclofen when it is used in high doses in alcoholics.
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