UMass Innovates Groundbreaking Strategy to Combat Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol abuse inflicts immense human, social, and economic burdens, yet current treatments often fall short in facilitating lasting relief. This persistent issue is a leading global cause of mortality and disability. Recent statistics reveal that 16.4 million Americans aged 12 and older engaged in binge drinking on five or more occasions within the last month. While multiple medications exist to assist individuals in reducing or ceasing consumption, their efficacy is often overshadowed by notable side effects. For over three decades, research has focused on drugs targeting neuronal proteins that modulate neural responses. However, these treatments inadvertently impact many neurons, causing adverse reactions like fatigue or insomnia. As a neurobiologist, I emphasize the importance of identifying specific brain circuits involved in alcohol suppression for advancing precise treatments. In my recent research, my team mapped neuronal clusters in the medial orbitofrontal cortex, crucial for decision-making, that regulate binge drinking. Understanding their function may pave the way for innovative therapies with minimized side effects, informed by insights from gene therapy advancements.