Mixing traditional cigarettes with vaping products is as detrimental to health as smoking cigarettes alone, a new study reports. Read More
New studies are set to explore how gene expression alters the brain's response to drug abuse, and to screen for genes that could help brain cells withstand Parkinson's disease. Read More
Those who consider themselves to be light smokers, in that they smoke between one to four cigarettes a day, meet the criteria for nicotine addiction. Read More
Researchers have developed a non-hallucinogenic version of the drug ibogaine which has the potential to treat depression, addiction, anxiety, and a range of other mental health disorders. Read More
Manipulating memory via optogenetics mitigated addiction-related behaviors. Read More
Study identifies inflammatory mechanisms and cellular activity in the amygdala that drives alcohol addiction in mice. Chronic alcohol exposure compromises immune cells in the brain, driving anxiety and alcohol consumption that may lead to the development of AUD. Read More
Astrocytes respond to cocaine exposure in the brains of mice by promoting the formation of new synapses. Read More
Low-level exposure to lead during development does not lead to alcohol use disorder, but does alter the neural circuits in a way that if addiction occurs, it makes it harder to refrain from returning to addiction related behaviors. Read More
Study shows adolescents find vaping nicotine more rewarding than adults, and do so after shorter exposure. The findings may explain why vaping is so popular in the teenage demographic. Read More
Altered expression of FYN, a gene associated with the production of Tau, was identified in the brains of people addicted to heroin. Findings suggest opioid use can affect the brain in a way that might cause vulnerability in neural systems that can trigger neurodegeneration later in life. Read More
People with a history of substance use disorder are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection and have an increased risk of experiencing worse outcomes, a new study reports. Read More
Identical twins were more likely to have similar sun-seeking behaviors than non-identical twins, suggesting genetics play a key role in sun-seeking behaviors. Researchers identified five genes associated with sun-seeking behavior, some of which have previously been associated with behavioral traits linked to risk-taking and addiction. Read More