A Possible New Treatment for Alcohol Disorders?
New research published in the journal Biological Psychiartry points to a novel way for the treatment of alcoholism. This would look to reduce motivation for drinking instead of altering the effects of alcohol, itself. Indeed, the study claims to have discovered a new mechanism that changes brain activity and may influence alcohol-seeking behaviour. The network of proteins is called the extracellular matrix.
"Matrix metalloproteinases play critical roles in brain function and disease that have only recently received intensive study," said Dr. John Krystal, Editor of Biological Psychiatry. "The exciting study by Stefaniuk and colleagues implicates them in alcohol use disorders, but they are likely to play roles quite broadly in psychiatric disorders. It will be important to determine whether these proteins may be targeted therapeutically."