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Low Levels of Alcohol Can Epigenetically Prime the Brain for Addiction

December 20, 2022 Natalie Crowley

Alcoholism is a disease that can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or body type. But, dependence on alcohol seems to vary from person to person. In some, it can develop quickly and aggressively, while in others, it may emerge over a longer period of time. What makes one more or less susceptible to alcohol is not fully understood. Yet, the reasons are credited to both environmental and biological factors, which are also implicated in epigenetic regulation. In some [more…]

Epigenetics May Explain Vulnerability to Food Addiction

May 24, 2022 Natalie Crowley

Food is a necessity as much as it is a pleasure to pretty much everyone. But to the food addict, food is more like a drug, providing an overload of feel-good chemicals to the brain, increasing appetite and consumption tolerance. As a result, most food addicts suffer from health problems like obesity, eating disorders, and malnutrition. Because food cannot be abstained from during recovery, people who struggle with this disorder find it challenging to overcome, especially when unhealthy fast food [more…]

A Glimmer of Hope in the Ugly Face of Addiction: Epigenetics May Help Prevent Relapse

October 24, 2017 Tim Barry

Addiction has become an epidemic that is sweeping not only the nation, but the whole world. Returning substance abusers develop an emotional connection to a situation, environment or people that are present at the time of first usage, which generally means that when they encounter a similar experience, they look to use again. Kicking an addiction and all its symptoms may be one of the hardest things that a human has to endure. Half the battle is stopping use of [more…]

How Understanding an Individual’s Epigenetics Can Help Measure and Treat Addiction

January 3, 2017 WhatIsEpigenetics

For a long time humans have wondered if chemicals causing drug and alcohol addiction could be active in the genes and potentially passed on to the next generation. Although this was not scientifically proven until recent years, the fear of suffering from addictive diseases led children of addicts and former addicts to avoid alcohol and drugs completely. One of the scientific studies that give weight to this family history hypothesis on addiction was conducted at the Indiana University School of [more…]

Epigenetic Mark Might Make Some People More Prone to Drug Addiction

May 3, 2016 Bailey Kirkpatrick

Why are some people more vulnerable to drug addiction than others? Why is it possible for a person to use a drug once and be able to put it down forever, whereas another person becomes hooked and cannot stay clean, no matter how hard they try? These questions are far from being completely understood, and the answers may lie in several different factors, including environmental, societal, and genetic. Yet, understanding the interplay among these factors is difficult, since they vary [more…]

DNA Methylation Gives Epigenetic Hope to Cocaine Addiction Treatment

June 2, 2015 Bailey Kirkpatrick

Not only is cocaine a highly addictive drug, but it also comes with an incredibly high chance of relapse even after someone has abstained and experienced symptoms of withdrawal. A new study is illuminating the epigenetic changes made to DNA during the withdrawal stage for those trying to rid themselves of the drug and offers new hope for more effective epigenetic-based treatments for drug addiction. According to researchers from McGill University and Bar Ilan University, the genes found in your [more…]

Alleviating Epigenetically-Regulated Chronic Pain

June 21, 2022 Natalie Crowley

Pain is a natural symptom of damage to the body, either done by disease or injury. Usually, it subsides upon healing. But when pain persists beyond healing, or occurs for no apparent reason for a prolonged period of time, it is more than just a symptom. It is a chronic condition in its own right that needs attention. However, chronic pain is difficult to treat, even diagnose properly, because it is poorly understood in many cases. Plus, conventional therapies are [more…]

Epigenetics May Be Why Cocaine Cravings Increase With Time After Abstinence

January 28, 2020 Tim Barry

Addiction is an incredibly powerful force that affects many people all over the world. It’s a debilitating, lifelong disease that is difficult to combat. Cocaine addiction is a particularly challenging obstacle because it’s an immediately rewarding drug, delivering a high quick and easy. This trait, paired with drug-associated cues such as location, experience, or certain people is what makes the possibility of relapsing so likely for addicts. But what if there were other factors on a genetic level that cause [more…]

Alcohol Byproducts Can Epigenetically Trigger Cravings

December 26, 2019 Andrea P

As the holiday season brings about more parties, people are more likely to drink beyond healthy limits. In this social minefield of alcoholic beverages being served liberally, addicts may find themselves more inclined to fall back into their habit, already facing an average rate of relapse somewhere between 40 and 60%. We already know that alcohol can have several different effects on our epigenetics, all of which are negative. We’ve seen that binge drinking as a teenager can severely hinder [more…]

Epigenetic Study Finds Overactive Hormone May Drive Hypersexual Disorder

October 15, 2019 Natalie Crowley

Sex is a natural and normal part of life. When practiced safely with a consenting partner, it’s not only pleasurable but has certain health benefits. However, some people can be obsessed with sex, to the point that it causes them more harm than does any good. These individuals are usually diagnosed with having hypersexual disorder (HSD) – a condition where excessive sexual thoughts and actions interfere with the ability to function day-to-day. Often accompanied by other medical conditions, the causes [more…]

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