Alcohol addiction, also called alcohol use disorder, is a serious health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It is one of the most common mental health conditions.
According to the World Health Organization, alcohol use is linked to more than 3 million deaths each year. Drinking too much also causes about 5.1% of all health problems around the world.
Now, scientists from the University of Warwick have made an important discovery. They found that alcohol addiction is related to how the brain reacts to danger and unpleasant feelings. This research, led by Professor Jianfeng Feng, was published in the journal Science Advances.
The study focused on a part of the brain called the medial orbitofrontal cortex, or mOFC. This brain area helps us notice when something feels wrong or unsafe. When it does, it sends a message to another brain area called the dorsal periaqueductal gray, or dPAG.
The dPAG helps decide what we should do—like escaping or reacting in another way. Together, these brain parts help us deal with stress and negative experiences.
To explore this, the researchers looked at brain scans from the IMAGEN study, which included 2,000 teenagers from the UK, Germany, France, and Ireland.
These young people had their brains scanned while doing tasks where they could win rewards. When they didn’t win, it caused disappointment or stress. The scientists then studied how the mOFC and dPAG worked during these times.
They discovered that in people who showed early signs of alcohol problems, the connection between the mOFC and dPAG didn’t work properly. This weak connection may increase the risk of becoming addicted to alcohol. There are two ways this can happen.
First, alcohol may slow down the dPAG. When this brain area becomes less active, a person might not feel fear or stress as they normally would. They may only notice the “good” feelings from alcohol, like relaxation or happiness. Because of this, they may keep drinking even if it harms them.
Second, the dPAG might be too active in some people. These people may feel constant stress, fear, or discomfort, even when nothing bad is happening. To get away from these feelings, they might drink quickly and without thinking. This is called impulsive drinking.
This study helps us understand how addiction begins in the brain. Knowing which brain pathways are involved can help scientists and doctors develop better treatments. In the future, we might be able to treat alcohol addiction by helping these brain areas work better.
In summary, alcohol addiction is deeply linked to how our brain handles stress and negative emotions. The new research from the University of Warwick offers hope that we can find new ways to prevent and treat this serious condition.
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