Alcohol, like other drugs subject to abuse, is associated with increased dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked with pleasure. But it turns out that even just the flavor of alcohol triggers a dopamine release—especially among people with a family history of alcoholism. (click below to read more)
Researchers showed this for what they said was the first time by scanning the brains of 49 men as they consumed a tablespoon of beer sprayed into their mouths over the course of 15 minutes, a dose that would yield no detectable blood-alcohol level. A second scan was performed while the men consumed a sprayed tablespoon of Gatorade.
Those given beer showed more dopamine, and the effect was four times greater among those with close alcoholic kin. A dopamine release triggered solely by an alcohol cue—such as flavor alone—could be an inherited risk factor for alcoholism, researchers said.
"Beer Flavor Provokes Striatal Dopamine Release in Male Drinkers: Mediation by Family History of Alcoholism," Brandon G. Oberlin, Mario Dzemidzic, Stella M. Tran, Christina M. Soeurt, Daniel S. Albrecht, Karmen K. Yoder and David A. Kareken, Neuropsychopharmacology
No comments:
Post a Comment