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(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- Disrupting drug-associated memories may prevent drug addicts from relapsing. New research from the University of Cambridge suggests when the recall process is disrupted at just the right time, the tendency to relapse is reduced or eliminated for a specific period of time.
The study, written by Amy Milton, PhD, Barry Everitt, ScD and their Cambridge colleagues explains memories that are retrieved by the brain are often unstable. The recall process is called reconsolidation and while its in progress, memories can be reinforced, weakened or altered by interfering with specific receptors (NMDA-type glutamate receptors).
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The Cambridge scientists trained cocaine addicted rats to associate turning on a light with a dose of cocaine. When the rats were treated with a chemical that interfered with the receptors before switching on the light, the drug seeking behavior was reduced or stopped completely for up to a month. Only a single treatment was necessary. When the team tried the treatment after the lights turned on, it had no effect.
According to an article on the study appearing in The Journal of Neuroscience, the findings suggest that the combination of existing therapies with properly timed use of NMDA receptor inhibitors may help addicts abstain from drugs.
I dont know of any other study in the field of drug addiction where an acute treatment causes long-term cessation of drug taking behavior in rodent models, Karim Nader, PhD at McGill University was quoted as saying.
There are several NMDA receptor inhibitors on the market. This is an example of hypothesis-driven basic research that can be readily translated to the treatment of cocaine addiction in humans, Yavin Shaham, PhD at the National Institute of Drugs was quoted as saying.
SOURCE: The Journal of Neuroscience, August 13, 2008
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