A study using PET imaging scans on drug addicted volunteers versus normal subjects showed that people with addictions in general have 15-20% fewer dopamine receptors then their counterparts.
Joanna Fowler, PhD, senior scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton N.Y. stated, “This reinforces the idea that drug addicts experience diminished feelings of pleasure, which drives their continual drug use." Gene-Jack Wang, MD, senior scientist at Brookhaven, also used the dopamine PET scans on obese individuals and found highly similar patterns of low dopamine receptors validating that at least in some cases, obesity can also be considered a disease of addiction.
Studies like this help in determining what treatment strategies might be more effective in individuals addicted to drugs. You can read the full article at HealthImaging.com.
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I wonder if there is a way to increase the dopamine receptors. I've never heard of anything like this but it would make sense if they would be able to do this.
ReplyDeleteHey Edna, that was the first thing that popped into my mind. If they have discovered that this condition is there, finding a way to work with it will be next. Count on it.
ReplyDeleteI went and read the full article. That's some pretty amazing stuff. I wonder if the good Lord meant for us to figure out as much about the human body as we have.
ReplyDeleteI attend NYU and am a junior majoring in science. I read the entire article and was so impressed I took it to class. The field is just getting started but I bet within a few years there will be major milestones made.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting. I wonder if that problem extends to convicts too? I hope the research into this continues until there is a way to increase the work of the receptors.
ReplyDelete