New research unveils the potential for psilocybin to produce beneficial effects for those at risk of alcohol dependence.
As highlighted in the journal Science Advances, psilocybin may be able to restore molecular circuits in the brain, leading to a reduction in relapses associated with alcohol dependence.
“Here, using a bidirectional neuromodulation approach, we demonstrate a causal link between reduced prefrontal mGluR2 function and both impaired executive control and alcohol craving,” the study reads.
“In the search for a pharmacological intervention with high translational potential, psilocybin was capable of restoring mGluR2 expression and reducing relapse behavior,” the study also states. “Last, we propose a FDG-PET biomarker strategy to identify mGluR2 treatment-responsive individuals.”
All in all, the findings uncovered a common molecular pathological mechanism for both executive dysfunction and alcohol craving. Researchers presented their mGluR2 mechanism-based intervention strategy to develop pharmacotherapies for alcoholism.
