Research may have found important clue for addictions

A report on research in Britain and reported by Reuters suggests that there may be a biological cause contributing to addictions. While early, the study of several dozen pairs of twins suggests that an abnormality in something called the "fronto-striatal" area of the brain could cause difficulties in self-control resulting in addictive behavior.  The study worked with sets of twins where one was addicted to cocaine and the other had no addiction and compared their brains with one another and with other healthy people. The research found that the twins each had an abnormality in the area of the brain which is involved with controlling behavior.  The abnormality was not found in healthy individuals. The study seems to bring together several threads of knowledge concerning addiction; such as, the brains of addicted persons have different characteristics than non-addicts; but it was uncertain whether the differences were the result of an addiction or had existed prior to it start. Also, it is believed that addiction involves people who have deficient levels of self-control. It has been noted that some people are able to use substances without becoming addicted. Researchers are studying whether those who are vulnerable could be treated and preemptively helped with the self-control issues before the addiction sets in. To see the full report from Reuters <click here>