Researchers in Michigan have discovered variations in a gene that could affect an individual's risk for alcoholism.
The lead author of the study, Sandra Villafuerte from the Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience Institute and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, has discovered a variation within a gene called GABRA2 that could influence one's problems with alcohol. Using MRI scans to observe blood flow changes, the participants were presented with situations in which they anticipated losing or winning money. This type of stimuli illustrated to researchers exactly how the brain responds to various situations. Their research showed that individuals who were presented with that type of stimuli showed marked activity within the insula, the area of the brain responsible for interpreting such stimuli.
“Being able to identify genetic markers within addictive behaviors is yet another part of the addiction treatment challenge,” begins a spokesperson for Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center. “We know that there is no one factor that is solely responsible for addictive behavior. However, being able to identify various parts of the equation will help those within the addiction treatment field be better able to combat this problem and to help more individuals live a sober life.”
The study focused on approximately 450 individuals from nearly 200 families, almost half of whom had at least one member who had been diagnosed with alcohol abuse or dependence. The connection between the brain's insula response as well as addictive behavior has been observed in various studies throughout the years.
If your loved one is in denial about their alcohol use, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center offers professional intervention services to assist you in getting them the help that they need to recover. For the past 13 years, Mountainside has established itself as an innovator within the addiction treatment field, and the treatment modalities Mountainside utilizes are regarded as among the most cutting-edge approaches in helping individuals to get, and to remain, sober.
The compassionate, caring treatment team at Mountainside is comprised of licensed and certified counselors and social workers as well as a Nurse Practitioner and a Registered Nurse, both of whom have specialization and extensive experience in drug addiction and alcohol treatment. For clients who may have psychiatric issues and/or a dual diagnosis, Mountainside provides the services of a Psychiatrist who also has specialization in addictions. As a result of their unique, innovative approaches to addiction treatment over the past 13 years, Mountainside has become the model for the addiction treatment field.
The program, along with its professional addiction treatment team, have earned national recognition and resulted in Mountainside being invited to Washington by the White House to meet with the White House Drug Czar, John P. Waters, for an in-depth meeting on what makes its program so successful. These accolades did not go unnoticed within the addiction treatment field and resulted in the adoption by many throughout the country of a more holistic approach to drug addiction treatment. If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, or if you have any questions, please contact Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center for a confidential inquiry at 800-762-5433.
