6 ms·
The most relevant part to me: "an immune protein called Interleukin 10, or IL-10 [...] By boosting IL-10 signaling in the brain, [...] scientists could reverse
by slfnflctd 6y ago
The most relevant part to me:
"an immune protein called Interleukin 10, or IL-10 [...] By boosting IL-10 signaling in the brain, [...] scientists could reverse the aberrant effects [...] a stark reduction in anxiety-like behaviors and motivation to drink alcohol."
As usual, the 'in mice' caveat applies, but if there is a compound which can both reduce anxiety and motivation to drink that works on humans without terrible side effects, it would certainly be huge.
- amelius 6y agoBy the way, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) also is surprisingly effective in reducing alcohol dependence. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292849/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292849/
- arcticbull 6y agoPsilocybin too. There's a clinical trial running at the moment. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02061293 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02061293
- GordonS 6y agoOn mobile so don't have links/refs, but I've read papers claiming modafinil reduces cravings for alcohol and other drugs too.
- DenisM 6y agoIt would nice if you could find those links when you get back to the mainland^W a proper computer.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- birdyrooster 6y agoMaybe if you are dopamine deficient
- spurgu 6y agoI used armodafinil for a while, made me want to have a drink after work even more. That said I was efficient/focused during office hours, although more annoyed at stupid people than usual. As long as I was able to focus on my own work it was great. I wouldn't say it had a positive effect overall. The effects lasts long enough that you can't really take any more after early afternoon if you want proper sleep, and once the effects wear off, well, you want a drink... Just my personal experience though.
- FL33TW00D 6y agoVery interesting paper I had not seen before. Seems like with more targeted magnetic stimulation the effects could be enhanced.
- seamyb88 6y agoTBH the greatest thing I ever found to help was to drink so much over such a long period of time that you get the most amazingly horrific withdrawal symptoms. Sober 6 years because I don't like to drink any more. YMMV
- alangibson 6y agoI know a guy that stopped smoking by imagining vomiting in graphic detail every time he had a cigarette. YMMV
- nkozyra 6y agoI missed the mechanism they use to boost Interleukin 10. Anyone catch the relevant section in the study?
- vorpalhex 6y ago> To determine the impact of CeA IL-10 overexpression on dependence-induced drinking, a cohort of mice (N = 32) was injected with control or IL-10 virus as described below in ‘Viral injections in the brain’ 4 weeks prior to starting the 2BC-CIE paradigm.
- chrismeller 6y agoInteresting. My psychiatrist pointed out at one point that drinking can cause increased anxiety for several days. Ever since I’ve paid attention to it and she’s definitely right - days where my anxiety is higher follows drinking 2-3 days before. If I can notice it after one night out, it doesn’t surprise me that long term the two could be highly linked.
- DenisM 6y agoPerhaps you're just more likely to drink if you're already anxious for some reason.
- zwkrt 6y agoIt’s always strange when random Internet people pull the correlation versus causation card on an actual doctor.
- ska 6y agoNo opinion on this particular issue, but actual doctors mess up correlation vs. causation all the time. This shouldn't surprise; medical doctors generally are not scientists (although there are good scientists who are doctors).
- zwkrt 6y ago> No opinion on this particular issue Perfect for a comment on Hacker News(TM)!
- germinalphrase 6y agoIANAD - but the explanation I ha e heard is there your brain compensates for the “slowing down” effect of alcohol by increasing brain activity. When alcohol is eliminated from the system, the brain activity level needs time to come down to baseline causing anxiety. This is also - I think - the mechanism that contributes to the deadly nature of alcohol withdrawal.
- JamesBarney 6y agoOne thing to note is that il-10 seems to be more immunostimulatory and less immunosuppressive in humans than in mice.