An article in Medical News Today reports about a new study done on genes that promote the growth and development in embryos. The genes have also been found to help transmit chemical signals which help individuals learn, remember, forget, and maybe even become addicted. This signal pathway, named the Wnt pathway, was thought to retire after the growth and development phase, but recent research has proved otherwise. The Wnt pathway is called back into action in adults to change the properties of the nervous system in response to experiences.During embryo development, the Wnt genes are known to "pattern the development and distribution of organs in the body." When mutated, they can cause various types of cancer and other developmental defects. The Wnt pathway regulates the strength of the transmission of of nerve signals from one neuron to another. This allows "plasticity" and flexibility of synapses, which is crucial to the processes of learning, forgetting, and remembering.
Researchers on the subjects have also found that these genes may effect addiction as well. The results of this research are causing scientists to further investigate this topic for pharmaceutical purposes. There is already current psychiatric medication that alters synapse strength, but
more research must be conducted to enhance this type of medicine to treat mental disorders, including addiction.
The idea of peole who are always in and out of rehab will finally be treatable is a good one. People who want to quit but don't have strong driving willpower would now have a treatment that could be what they need to stop.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of genes with learning and memory is quite fun. Personally I fear inheriting my mother's absolutely horrible memory and think that more research into this area could have good effects overall. That this is also linked to addiction and possible ways to treat it makes it all that more urgent.
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