TL;DR: A 2026 medRxiv preprint found that ex-smokers had higher fMRI blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) responses to high-energy food pictures than adults with obesity or abstinent alcohol dependence, suggesting a brain reward route for post-quitting weight gain. Key Findings 77-person fMRI comparison: Researchers compared 25 ex-smokers, 26 abstinent adults with alcohol dependence, and 26 …
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with impairments in dopamine (DA) neurotransmission, with significant differences in DA release, receptor availability, and transporter density observed across different levels of alcohol consumption and stages of AUD. Highlights: Acute Alcohol Effects: Social drinkers exhibit a dopamine release in the striatum, particularly the ventral striatum, after acute alcohol consumption, …
A study broke down Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) into specific brain-related categories and identified key factors that can help understand and classify AUD more accurately. Higlights: Cravings & Insensitivity: The study identified two main factors related to alcohol desire – one about craving alcohol and the other about not feeling its effects strongly. Emotions: Three …
The FDA-approved diabetes drug semaglutide reduces alcohol drinking in mice and rats, suggesting it could be repurposed as an effective medication for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Key findings include: Semaglutide dose-dependently decreased binge-like drinking in both male and female mice. In rats, semaglutide reduced binge-like and dependence-induced alcohol drinking. Semaglutide also decreased consumption of caloric …
Researchers have identified a powerful combination of drugs that may help treat alcoholism by reducing cravings and blocking relapse. The dual treatment virtually wiped out binge drinking and heavy drinking in an animal model of alcohol addiction. Key Facts: Rats treated with both a probiotic and antioxidants showed a dramatic 90% decrease in relapse-like binge …
A new study provides preliminary evidence that MDMA-assisted therapy may help reduce alcohol use in people with severe PTSD. Key facts: MDMA-assisted therapy was tested in a phase 3 clinical trial for treating severe PTSD. Participants were allowed to have mild alcohol or cannabis use disorder. Compared to placebo therapy, MDMA therapy led to greater …
