Nicotine Addiction Suppression Site Discovered in the Brain
There are many reasons those individuals who smoke struggle with the idea of quitting. They may believe that their nicotine addiction is so strong that they will not be able to overcome it. There may also be a fear of the loss of social connection often experienced by those who find smoking to be an integral part of their relationships with friends and coworkers.
One significant deterrent to smoking cessation among many who smoke is the fear that giving up nicotine will cause significant weight gain. A fear of the loss of the enjoyment of smoking, combined with the fear of weight gain, is often a key reason given for the decision to keep smoking.
A study conducted by researchers at Yale University has discovered a receptor in the brain that may be helpful in developing medication that would assist smokers in smoking cessation while preventing weight gain. The brain mechanism could be targeted with mediations that have proved successful in preventing weight gain in animal models.
The study published in the June 10 issue of Science shows that a particular subclass of brain nicotinic receptor is involved with nicotine's ability to reduce food intake in rodents. While research has shown that average weight gain after smoking cessation is less than 10 pounds, a medication that prevents any weight gain at all could be a significant development in reducing the number of smoking-related deaths.
Researchers led by Dr. Marina Picciotto found that a nicotine-like drug, cytosine, activated nicotinic receptors in the hypothalamus, the brain center that controls feeding. The drug's effects resulted in the activation of a circuit that reduced food intake and body fat in an animal model.
As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cigarette smoking causes more than 440,000 preventable deaths every year. This equates to about 1 in 5 deaths in the United States overall. Despite these negative physical consequences, many smokers report that they find quitting extremely difficult.
The results of the study have significant implications for the development of a medication used to target nicotine receptors and help smokers quit. The researchers found that nicotine reduced eating and body fat through receptors that are associated with nicotine aversion and withdrawal, instead of those associated with reward and reinforcement.
The Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Dr. Nora D. Volkow, explained that the highly selective cytosine may be more effective than a drug that acts on multiple receptors. The research was funded by NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health.
