Alcoholism is linked to brain pathways

A reccent scientific study states that alcoholism may be due to dysfunction in a specific brain pathway that normally helps keep drinking in check.

Difficulty saying no to alcohol, even when it could clearly lead to harm, is a defining feature of alcohol use disorders. This study takes us a step further in understanding the brain mechanisms underlying compulsive drinking, said a researcher.

Some complex human behaviours including emotion, anxiety and motivation are regulated by the outer layers of the brain-cortex that are primarily responsible brain processes like decision-making. Unlike other addictive substances like cocaine, alcohol has very broad effects on the brain.

Another researcher said, we want to understand how the brain normally regulates drinking, so we can answer questions about what happens when this regulation isn't happening as it should.

The researchers used mice as the subject of experimentation for conducting the research.

Current treatments just aren't effective enough, nearly half of all people treated for AUD ( Alcohol use disorder) relapse within a year of seeking treatment, he said.

For decision effective treatments for alcoholism, scientists first need to understand the difference in the wiring of a normal person's brain and an alcoholic's brain.

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Blood, urine tests can detect autism in kids

Scientists have developed new blood and urine tests that can diagnose autism in children, allowing patients to get appropriate treatment much earlier in their lives. Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are defined as developmental disorders mainly affecting social interaction and they can include a wide spectrum of behavioural problems. These include speech disturbances, repetitive and/or compulsive behaviour, hyperactivity, anxiety, and difficulty to adapt to new environments, some with or without cognitive impairment. Since there is a wide range of ASD symptoms diagnosis can be difficult and uncertain, particularly at the early stages of development. "Our discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention," said a researcher. "We hope the tests will also reveal new causative factors. With further testing we may reveal specific plasma and urinary profiles or "fingerprints" of compounds with damaging modifications," said the researcher. "This may help us improve the diagnosis of ASD and point the way to new causes of ASD," she said. The study found a link between ASD and damage to proteins in blood plasma by oxidation and glycation - processes where reactive oxygen species (ROS) and sugar molecules spontaneously modify proteins. They found the most reliable of the tests they developed was examining protein in blood plasma where, when tested, children with ASD were found to have higher levels of the oxidation marker dityrosine (DT) and certain sugar-modified compounds called "advanced glycation endproducts" (AGEs). Genetic causes have been found in 30-35 per cent of cases of ASD and the remaining 65-70 per cent of cases are thought to be caused by a combination of environmental factors, multiple mutations, and rare genetic variants. However the research team also believe that the new tests could reveal yet to be identified causes of ASD. The research also confirmed the previously held belief that mutations of amino acid transporters are a genetic variant associated with ASD. Researchers, recruited 38 children who were diagnosed with ASD (29 boys and nine girls) and a control group of 31 healthy children (23 boys and eight girls) between the ages of five and 12. Blood and urine samples were taken from the children for analysis. The team discovered that there were chemical differences between the two groups. The changes in multiple compounds were combined together using artificial intelligence algorithms techniques to develop a mathematical equation or "algorithm" to distinguish between ASD and healthy controls. The outcome was a diagnostic test better than any method currently available.

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The personality diet

Have you ever done the same diet as a friend and one of you has lost weight while the other hasn't? It could be down to your personality.

Neuroscientist Daniel Amen has developed a diet which ditches counting calories and focuses on your personality traits, identifying your weaknesses and telling you which foods you should eat and which you to avoid.

He writes: "We looked at the brains of our overweight patients and discovered there was not one brain pattern associated with being overweight: there were at least five different types: compulsive overeaters, impulsive overeaters, compulsive-impulsive overeaters, sad or emotional overeaters and anxious overeaters."

Find out what personality diet you should be on...

Compulsive eater

You are: compulsive, argumentative, prone to excess, have trouble sleeping, a grudge-bearer.

What works: salmon, brown rice, sunflower seeds, skinless turkey, bananas, herbal tea and complex carbohydrates, which help the body produce more serotonin, improving mood.

What doesn't work: high protein diets and caffeine, which increase focus - which compulsive eaters already have tons of.

Emotional eater

You are: easily bored, have a low self-esteem, feel anxious, comfort-eat, suffer with IBS or headaches.

What works: eggs, liver, walnuts, mackerel, broccoli, essential oils, and outdoor workouts, and they should increase their intake of omega-3 fatty acids which help calm the body by reducing inflammation.

What doesn't work: not getting enough sleep and isolating yourself from family and friends.

Impulsive eater

You are: disorganised, easily distracted, prone to eating when you're not hungry, often running late.

What works: chicken, turkey, eggs, fish, shellfish, steak, oats and green tea, as these raise levels of dopamine in the brain and boost concentration.

What doesn't work: high-carb or sugary diets as serotonin-boosting carbohydrates are disastrous for impulsive sorts as they simply lower their control further.

Compulsive-Impulsive eater

You: share characteristics from both compulsive and impulsive eaters and think about food all day long.

What works: green tea, eating healthy options, exercise, goal setting, plenty of sunlight and fresh air.

What doesn't work: St John's wort.

Anxious eater

You: bite your nails, have regular headaches, suffer from muscle tension, are easily startled, experience heart palpitations, are shy and feel uncomfortable in social situations.

What works: wholegrains, dairy products, citrus fruit, spinach, almonds, lentils, walnuts, omega 3-6-9 supplements and meditation.

What doesn't work: too much animal protein, and they should avoid alcohol and caffeine as they use food to medicate their feelings of tension, nervousness and fear.