Alkoholverlangen und verminderte zelluläre Stressantwort bei alkoholabhängigen Patienten - Neue genetische und epigenetische Befunde

Den stoffgebundenen Süchten liegen ätiologisch komplexe Interaktionen von genetischen und umweltbedingten Faktoren zugrunde. Sucht bezeichnet das unabweisbare Verlangen nach einem bestimmten Erlebniszustand. Die Charakterisierung und Identifizierung der neurobiologischen Grundlagen, die dieses Verlangen und davon abgeleitete Verhaltensmuster determinieren, ist von herausragender Bedeutung. Im Mittelpunkt aktueller wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen stehen daher neurobiologische Erkenntnisse zum Themengebiet der epigenomischen und genomischen Forschung, die sowohl neue Erkenntnisse zum Verständnis des Alkoholverlangens (Craving) als auch zur bekannten reduzierten zellulären Stressantwort bei Alkoholabhängigkeit liefern.

Addictions to substances are based on etiologically complex interactions of genetic and environmentally conditioned factors. Craving signifies an irresisitible desire to experience a specific mental and/or physical condition. The characterization and identification of the neurobiological fundamentals determining this desire and the pertaining behavioural patterns are of utmost importance. Hence, neurobiological realizations on the subject of epigenomic and genomic research are focal points of scientific research yielding new knowledge for understanding such ”cravings” and the already well-known reduced cellular response to the stress situation prevailing in addicts.

Key words

Addiction - craving - synuclein - stress - cellular response - epigenetic - DNA-methylation

Literatur

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