- In all, the scientists examined data from 129 individuals who smoked at the time of brain injury.
- The existence of a neuronal pathway that may be potentially therapeutic for addiction, in general, is suggested.
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| Used cigarettes. / Pixabay |
Although cases are rare, brain damage caused, among others, by a stroke can lead to a person ending their dependence, for example on tobacco. Behind these cases, a brain circuit has been identified that could serve as a target for addiction treatment.
Thanks to a new technique known as lesion network mapping, researchers in the United States and Finland found that giving up addiction in these cases lies in entire brain circuits and not in specific brain regions, pointing to new targets for treatment. . The results are published in the journal Nature Medicine.
For their research, the scientists used data from two independent cohorts of about 100 nicotine-addicted patients who suffered a brain injury - usually from a stroke - and then compared the injuries of those who were able to quit with those of patients who couldn't. they did it.
In all, they examined data from 129 individuals who smoked at the time of brain injury, of whom 69 continued to smoke and 34 who quit without difficulty, immediately afterward, and without relapse.
The researchers found that, although the lesions generated by the stroke were located in very different places in the brain, in the case of those who quit smoking they always targeted a specific brain circuit. Furthermore, to their surprise, in the course of their research and using different databases, they also found that the reduced risk of alcoholism corresponded to similar brain circuitry.
This suggests the existence of a neural pathway that may be potentially therapeutic for addiction in general, rather than dependence on a specific substance, says a statement from Brigham and Women's Hospital (Boston). "Although we know a lot about the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction, treatment options are still very limited," says Juho Joutsa of the University of Turku, Finland.
"By looking beyond individual brain regions and into the brain circuitry, we have found targets for addiction remission and are looking forward to rigorously testing them through clinical trials," said Michael Fox of the Department of Neurology at Brigham. Ultimately, he adds, "our goal is to take bigger steps to improve existing therapies for addiction and open the door to remission."
Now that this study has identified a target -- a specific brain circuit -- "we hope to see if targeted neuromodulation therapy provides sustainable symptom relief for our patients" with addictions, says Fox.