Brain protein could hold alcoholism cure

US scientists have pinpointed a protein in the brain that could hold a cure to alcoholism, suppressing the urge to continue drinking alcohol.

Thomas L. Kash, PhD

A study, led by the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, found that the naturally-occurring brain protein called Neuropeptide Y, or NPY, was capable of suppressing binge alcohol drinking in mice.

“This anti-drinking effect was due to increasing inhibition (the brakes) on a specific population of cells that produce a ‘pro-drinking’ molecule called corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)”, said Thomas L. Kash, PhD, assistant professor in the departments of pharmacology and psychology. “When we then mimicked the actions of NPY using engineered proteins, we were also able to suppress binge alcohol drinking in mice.”

The study found that long-term excessive drinking can de-stabilise the body’s natural NPY system to prevent binge drinking.

Kash explained: “We found that this anti-drinking NPY system is altered by long-term alcohol drinking in multiple species, suggesting that this may be either a marker or treatment for alcohol abuse,” Kash said.

The study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, suggests that restoring NPY may be useful for treating alcohol use disorders and may also protect some individuals from becoming alcohol dependent.

Professor of psychology and co-author Todd Thiele added: “The identification of where in the brain and how NPY blunts binge drinking, and the observation that the NPY system is compromised during early binge drinking prior to the transition to dependence, are novel and important observations”.

Last year the UK-based National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said people drinking half a bottle of wine could be prescribed the first ever drug to help reduce alcohol consumption, Nalmefene. Costing £3 a tablet, the drug is designed to be taken when people feel the urge to have a drink.