The study was conducted by collaborators at Ohio State University and the Oregon National Primate Research Center, who focused on research into the effectiveness of gene therapy in treating alcohol addiction.

They found that sustained release of human glial-derived neurotrophic factor (hGDNF) in the monkey brain, which controls dopamine reward pathways, could help prevent relapse in alcohol-dependent patients after a period of abstinence.

Alcohol withdrawal is often accompanied by relapses, even after treatment using modern methods such as pharmacotherapy. This is because long-term alcohol consumption adapts dopaminergic signaling in the brain, reducing the sensitivity of dopamine receptors and requiring more and more alcohol to achieve the desired effect, MedicalXpress reports.

In the study, researchers used gene therapy to introduce the hGDNF gene directly into the monkeys’ brains to restore reward system function. The results showed that animals that received gene therapy had a significantly reduced dependence on alcohol and a reduced need for alcohol consumption compared to the control group.

These results highlight the potential of gene therapy as an effective treatment for alcohol addiction that can help patients avoid relapse and restore normal function of the brain’s reward system. This approach may also hold promise for treating other forms of addiction that do not involve alcohol.