Optimal Being

In recent years, the intersection between physical exercise and its effects on substance use disorders has garnered significant interest within the scientific community. A new study delves into this relationship, exploring how regular physical activity might influence the severity of dependence among individuals who use illicit substances. The research, published in the  Journal of Psychoactive Drugs , provides evidence that engaging in frequent exercise may be associated with lower levels of dependency on various drugs. Substance use disorders represent a significant challenge to public health systems worldwide, characterized by high rates of relapse post-treatment. Traditional approaches to addiction treatment have often focused on psychological and pharmacological interventions, yet emerging evidence suggests that supplementary strategies, such as exercise, could offer additional benefits. The rationale behind this study is rooted in the complex interplay between physical activi...

  Doxycycline, a widely used antibiotic, might help reduce the addictive effects of drugs like morphine and cocaine, according to new research published in  Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry . This finding opens up new possibilities for treating substance use disorders, offering hope for more effective interventions. Substance use disorders represent a major public health challenge globally. Characterized by the compulsive use of addictive drugs, these disorders lead to severe behavioral and neural changes, posing significant treatment challenges. Existing treatments are often inadequate, underlining the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies. The researchers embarked on this study to explore the potential of doxycycline, a common antibiotic known for its anti-inflammatory properties, in mitigating the addictive effects of certain drugs. “Our interest in this topic from the complexity and recurrent nature of substance use disorders, which prese...

Consuming high-fat and high-sugar foods causes changes in activity and connectivity in the brain’s  dopaminergic system, resulting in a stronger preference for these foods. Chocolate bars, crisps and fries—why can’t we just ignore them in the supermarket? Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research in Cologne, in collaboration with Yale University, have now shown that foods with a high fat and sugar content change our brain: If we regularly eat even small amounts of them, the brain learns to consume precisely these foods in the future. The paper is published in the journal  Cell Metabolism . Why do we like unhealthy and fattening foods so much? How does this preference develop in the brain? “Our tendency to eat high-fat and high-sugar foods, the so-called Western diet, could be innate or develop as a result of being overweight. But we think that the brain learns this preference,” explains Sharmili Edwin Thanarajah, lead author of the study. To test this...