Potential new treatment for alcohol dependence: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists

http://goo.gl/sqyV0B

Harris added that although PPAR agonists were initially developed to control blood levels of sugar and fat, they were later found to also act on the brain, thought to possibly guard against neurodegeneration, and are currently being tested as a remedy for Alzheimer's Disease.

"Because of these brain effects, several research groups have asked if PPAR agonists might be useful in drugaddiction," said Harris. "Several of these drugs are currently being tested for opiate addiction in humans. And, because these drugs are already approved by the FDA for humans, the drugs could be used 'off label' for treatment of alcoholism or other addictions. This is the first study to combine human genetic studies of alcoholism with animal models of alcohol consumption to show a connection between PPAR receptors and drugs acting on these receptors with alcohol abuse."