Gene therapy used to increase dopamine production in macaque monkeys showed promising results for those who struggle with alcohol use disorder.
abstinenceby inserting two small holes in the macaques’ skulls, and researchers
injected a gene that makes the glial-derived neurotrophic factor, or GDNF protein, which stimulates the amount of dopamine produced. Then the monkeys were given the option to drink water or alcohol for four weeks.Just one round of gene therapy resulted in the test group reducing their drinking by 50% compared to the control group which didn’t receive therapy.
However, researchers also found that the therapy could also influence other behaviors such as weight loss and water intake. The macaques in the test group drank less water compared to the control group and lost about 18% of their body weight, although the study suggests this could be due to less alcohol consumption. Additional research is needed to look into changes in the macaques’ mindset, mood, and activity levels, Robinson told Wired.
Grant and her team said in the study that the resounding efficacy of GDNF gene therapy is promising for those who struggle with alcohol use disorder, and believe it could be effective in treating other substance abuse disorders. However, the therapy treatment would not be widely accessible and with other options on the market, it should be used as a last resort form of treatment.
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