(Washington Insider Magazine) —A new gene therapy significantly reduces alcohol consumption in monkeys, offering a potential treatment for severe addiction in humans
A new study has shown the potential of a new gene therapy to reduce dependency by 90% in monkeys.
If the findings are correct in human trials, this approach could revolutionize the treatment of severe alcohol dependence, providing hope for people struggling with alcohol use disorder (AUD).
Alcohol use disorder poses significant challenges that affect physical and mental well-being, so it is crucial to address the tendency of people with AUD to relapse.
This innovative gene therapy, whose information is published in Nature Medicine, targets reward circuits in the brain, regulated by the neurotransmitter dopamine.
The therapy takes advantage of glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a protein vital for maintaining neuronal function within this circuit. In those with AUD, GDNF levels drop during periods of withdrawal, particularly in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain.
The researchers postulated that enhancing GDNF delivery to VTA cells through gene therapy could enhance dopaminergic signaling, potentially breaking the cycle of addiction.
“Alcohol consumption dropped to near zero,” co-lead author Dr. Kathleen Grant, a professor at Oregon Health and Science University, said in a statement.
“For months, these animals preferred to drink water and simply avoided drinking alcohol altogether. They lowered their alcohol intake to the point where it was so low that we didn’t record the blood alcohol level.”
The study involved eight rhesus macaque monkeys undergoing an induction phase involving increasing exposure to alcohol. Subsequently, the monkeys were given access to alcohol and water for 21 hours daily for six months, followed by a 12-week abstinence period.
Finally, half of the monkeys received gene therapy via a viral vector carrying the human GDNF gene, delivered directly into the VTA.
Alcohol consumption leads to the release of dopamine, which explains the pleasurable sensations associated with drinking. However, chronic alcohol consumption decreases the release of dopamine, altering the brain’s response.
The study clarifies that alcohol addicts do not necessarily find more pleasure in drinking, but rather seek to maintain a state of intoxication.
A key advantage of gene therapy is its potential for permanent solutions. This offers hope for severe cases of AUD.
With millions of Americans affected by AUD, this research could address a significant unmet clinical need. In particular, GDNF viral vector therapy is already used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, indicating its safety.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 29.5 million people in the United States had AUD in 2021, including 894,000 youth ages 12-17.
This article is originally published on eldiariony.com