Understanding The Genetics Behind Addiction Blog #4

 

Angelina Tadros

November 25, 2025

Dr. Barbato

Genetics Blog #4

Understanding The Genetics Behind Addiction

A recent NIH study talks about a study done, funded by Washington University, that discovers genetic markers commonly inherited across multiple different substance use disorders (SUDs) by analyzing genomic data from over 1 million people. The researchers connected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with general addiction risk, as well as substance specific risk for alcohol, cannabis, nicotine, and opioids. The study emphasizes the role of dopamine regulation in addiction, reflecting that variations in genes controlling dopamine signalling, rather than dopamine itself, are central to risk. These discoveries give good insight into commonalities across SUDs and reinforce the potential for personalized prevention and treatment strategies.

Addiction not only has a genetic factor but also significantly impacts brain function, specifically in areas such as the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for judgement and impulse control. This explains why many people struggle trying to break their addiction. Functional Imaging studies like, fMRI and PET scans, show that the brains of people with SUDs show altered activity in the reward system, specifically in the nucleus accumbens part where dopamine releases signals pleasure. Abuse of drugs floods this system with dopamine, creating a higher and higher tolerance over time and increasing cravings to get the original high (that won't ever be reached again), even as natural rewards are less pleasurable. Imaging data from a similar source also reveals while substance use alters brain function, recovery is possible. Abstinence and interventions like physical exercise can help restore neural activity and improve executive functioning. Figure 1 below shows proof of the restoration of brain function as a result of continued abstinence.

Figure 1

Studying both genetics and brain imaging shows how some people inherit genetic variations in the genes that control dopamine signaling, which can affect how the brain's reward system responds and increase their risk of developing some sort of an addiction. Knowing a person’s genetic risk and how substance use affects the brain can help personalized prevention measures and treatments. This study confirms although substance abuse damages/alters the brain, it is possible to recover. This hopefully gives hope to those who struggle that they are not too far gone. I learned it is important to know your genetic risks in order to give yourself a head start on prevention and personalized care, genetics affect risk but don’t predict a person's future if you are in the know.

Sources

article:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-updates/2023/new-nih-study-reveals-shared-genetic-markers-underlying-substance-use-disorders

Picture+other source: https://www.recoveryanswers.org/recovery-101/brain-in-recovery/

Every Brain Needs Music

 One of the most fundamental aspects of the human condition is the creation, consumption, and subsequent adoration of music. Think of your favorite song right now, this is called "audiation", as you do this synapses in your brain fire in a pattern similar to brains that are actively listening to music. In fact music is so fundamental to our brains, that there are specific cell clusters in the auditory cortex of the human brain that only activate in response to music and sounds with musical qualities (i.e. ringtones, jingles, etc.). 

An fMRI of a brain listening to music

Not only does music feel good emotionally, it also may help prevent and lessen the effects of degenerative cognitive conditions such as Alzheimer's. For a long time it was assumed that humans stopped producing new neurons after they were born. This assumption was based on a simple fact, neurons themselves do not go through mitosis. Therefore, the rationale was, no mitosis, no new neuron cells. It is now known that while neurons themselves cannot divide, the stem cells that produce neurons can divide well into adulthood, this is called neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is well documented in the pharmaceutical industry as many medications for the treatment of depression and anxiety such as SSRIs and SNRIs actively stimulate neurogenesis. It is well documented now too that listening to music can stimulate a bit of neurogenesis. Playing music can stimulate even greater neurogenesis creating meshes of new neurons and synaptic pathways in the brain. These additional and strengthened neural pathways give the brain a surplus of neurons that can help resist and soften the effects of diseases like Alzheimer's without the use of medication. 

Pianist and OHSU Neuroscientist Dr. Larry Sherman playing piano

This is a very interesting field of research because it is clear that the act of music has lasting effects on our brain's chemistry. Future questions could potentially investigate if there is any epigenetic effects that correlate with long term music use. Given the fact that no other primates make music in the way humans do, it would be interesting to see if there is/are a "music gene(s)". It also goes to show that learning music is not only good for the soul, it is objectively good for your body. So make sure to eat your vegetables, get plenty of sleep, and enjoy your favorite musical artists, your body will thank you!

Link to article here

Study Finds Some People are 'Hard-Wired' to Prefer High Calorie Foods

Study leader Dr. Tony Goldstone, from Imperial College London in the UK, and colleagues have identified two genetic variants that influence whether we opt for high-calorie or low-calorie foods - a finding that that could open the door to more personalized treatment options for obesity. Dr. Goldstone and his colleagues set out to determine whether a person's food choices may be influenced by certain genetic variants. They conducted DNA genotyping on 45 European adults aged 19-55 to identify the presence of variants near two genes: the FTO gene, which has been associated with obesity predisposition, and the DRD2 gene, which plays a role in the regulation of dopamine in the brain. The subjects had a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 19 kg to 53.1 kg. Those subjects were asked to view pictures high and low-calorie foods and rate how appealing they were, while the researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to view brain activity.

They found that the participants who possessed a variant near the FTO gene and who rated the high calorie foods as more appealing demonstrated greater activity in a part of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex. Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that individuals who possess the FTO gene may be at greater risk for obesity because dopamine signals trigger a sense of craving and reward in the presence of unhealthy foods. Dr. Goldstone says "It means they may experience more cravings than the average person when presented with high-calorie foods leading them to eat more of these foods." The study team suggests using gut hormones that target dopamine cells in the brain to alter the hormone's influence on cravings for high-calorie foods.

Obesity, basically, means having to much body fat and is different from overweight, which means weighing too much. Obesity occurs when over time when you eat more calories than you use. From this study, the team suggests that people who have the FTO gene may have a risk for obesity because of the dopamine triggers a sense of craving. This is very interesting because I had no idea obesity could be traced to the genetic level. This finding could be very beneficial to more treatments in the future, and may help stop obesity. More than a third of adults in the US, 78.6 million people, are obese and this study could help bring that number down because obesity can lead to heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and many more harmful diseases. This study helped me open my eyes about what foods to eat.

Original article here