Genes and the brain determine early nicotine dependence

If you at least once in a life smoked a cigarette, then undoubtedly remember those feelings that you have experienced in this. Currently, a new study indicates the initial reaction of the body to smoking and the presence of a special gene that provokes the development of nicotine addiction .

Nicotine and genes

The results of a recent study shed light on why some people unwillingly become slaves to cigarettes. Scientists point to a link between the first attempts to smoke, the smoking process itself and a particular phenomenon, namely the nicotinic receptor - a gene known as CHRNA5.

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435 smokers and non-smokers took part in the study. All non-smokers, at least once in their lives, tried tobacco products (not more than 100), and as a result did not become active smokers. Inveterate smokers smoked at least 5 cigarettes a day for the past 5 years. Active smokers during the study were 8 times more likely to claim that the first puff was more enjoyable to them than the non-smoking participants. Such addiction to nicotine can be explained by the possible presence in the body of the gene CHRNA5, which provoked dependence on tobacco products.

Nicotine and the brain

"Nicotine does not cause such euphoric sensations as drugs (morphine)," says researcher Stephen R. Laviolette, Ph.D. (USA). "In fact, during the first attempt to smoke and there is a threat of getting nicotine addiction. At present, we know very little about how the brain reacts to the initial intake of nicotine, and also about the harm that we are inflicting on it.

Researchers studied areas of the cerebral cortex that were related to the emergence of nicotine dependence. During numerous experiments, they identified two "hot spots" that controlled a negative or positive state as a result of the initial exposure to nicotine. The results were published in the latest issue of the journal Neurobiology.

The results of the studies will serve as the basis for the development of a new type of therapy, which may prove to be much more effective than the currently used antinicotin preparations.