Friday, March 29, 2024
ADVT 
Life

How Binge Drinking Affects Male, Female Brains?

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Sep, 2018 07:56 PM
  • How Binge Drinking Affects Male, Female Brains?
While binge drinking affects health of both males and females, the effect of gene expression in an area of the brain linked to addiction was found to be different, finds a new study.
 
 
Repeated binge drinking was found to significantly alter molecular pathways in the nucleus accumbens -- a region of the brain linked to addiction.
 
 
But, in females the genes linked to hormone signalling and immune function are altered, whereas in males genes related to nerve signalling are affected. 
 
 
The study has significant implications for the treatment of alcohol use disorder as they emphasise the importance of tailoring effective therapies towards male and female patients, said researchers led by Deborah Finn, Professor at Oregon Health and Science University.
 
 
Repeated binge drinking can be a risk factor for the development of alcohol dependence. 
 
 
For the study, published in the journal Frontiers in Genetics, the team analysed gene expression in nucleus accumbens. 
 
 
"We examined the effect of repeated binge drinking on the expression of 384 genes previously identified as important in addiction and mood disorders," Finn said. 
 
 
Of a total of 106 genes regulated by binge drinking, only 14 were regulated in both males and females, representing common targets to binge drinking. Interestingly, only 4 of these 14 genes were regulated in the same direction and the top 30 genes regulated by binge drinking in each sex differed markedly.
 
 
"We have shown that pharmacologically manipulating a pathway in both sexes that only was affected by binge drinking in males did not decrease binge drinking in females; binge drinking was only decreased in males," Finn explained. 
 
 
She noted that a consideration of sex is critical in the development of potential pharmacological therapies for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.

MORE Life ARTICLES

Social media & Technology - Boon or Goon?

Social media & Technology - Boon or Goon?
We are arguably in the phase of learning to adopt these tools in an effective manner, which is attained through a balanced usage of technology

Social media & Technology - Boon or Goon?

Meet the Guha Family

Meet the Guha Family
Overall the Guhas have had a fulfilling, challenging and gratifying journey in Canada.

Meet the Guha Family

Sail Away from Your Comfort Zone

Sail Away from Your Comfort Zone
What limits our youth in their ability to become well-rounded individuals is the stereotypes we as a community have fixated into our minds.

Sail Away from Your Comfort Zone

Guest Column: Always Think Big For Your Career

Guest Column: Always Think Big For Your Career
Consider: you were earlier a skilled professional after having educated yourself up to a certain level — and you want to throw all this away just because you’re unsure of your English speaking skills?

Guest Column: Always Think Big For Your Career

Become a better BBQ’er this summer

Become a better BBQ’er this summer
With these fool-proof tips, you will be cooking up juicy burgers and delicious steaks in no time.

Become a better BBQ’er this summer

WATCH: Ravi Singh Tells What It Feels To Be Darpan’s International Sensation Award Winner

WATCH: Ravi Singh Tells What It Feels To Be Darpan’s International Sensation Award Winner
Watch Ravi Singh founder of Khalsa Aid speak of his experience winning the International Sensation Award at DARPAN AWARDS 2017.

WATCH: Ravi Singh Tells What It Feels To Be Darpan’s International Sensation Award Winner