Last Updated on 02/09/2024 by Ankita
Be it sadness or happiness… the drinker celebrates it with alcohol. Everyone enjoys while drinking alcohol but it is not known when the pleasure of drinking alcohol turns into an addiction. Many people quit drinking even a little alcohol for fear of getting addicted, while some people say even after drinking a lot that they are not addicted. Alcohol addiction destroys a person physically and mentally. But do you know what is the reason behind alcohol addiction? This has been revealed in a research by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Why does one get addicted to alcohol?
Alcohol addiction has a direct connection with human will. The function of dopamine neurons in the human brain is very important for the effect of drugs. It was told that a gene called RASGRF-2 can affect the pleasure of drinking alcohol in people. This research highlights genetics, brain chemistry and our relationship with alcohol. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and happiness in the brain. When we like something, dopamine is released in the brain. This can give a feeling of relaxation. It increases the habit of things that give pleasure. If alcohol increases a person’s dopamine, then he does it again and again.
Research revealed
According to research, people who have the RASGRF-2 gene release dopamine many times more. In this research, a study was conducted on 663 children aged 14 years. In this, the children were asked to do something that they enjoy, that is, something that can activate the ventral striatum. Two years later, at the age of 16, the researchers met these children again, who had turned 16 years old. After this, the alcohol habits of these children were observed.
The result was that young people who had the RASGRF-2 gene adopted the habit of drinking alcohol more often and easily, while those who did not have this gene drank alcohol less often. This finding shows that there may be a possible connection between the RASGRF-2 gene and increased pleasure in alcohol consumption. However, this is not the only reason for alcohol addiction. One reason for this is also association. If you are always sitting with people who drink alcohol regularly, then somewhere their nature can also attract you.
According to research, if two people drink the same amount of alcohol repeatedly, only the one who has the RASGRF-2 gene will get addicted. The person who does not have this gene has less chances of getting addicted. When to drink and when to quit depends entirely on his mind.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)