Addiction and the Clock Gene
One of the hazards of constantly reading about genetic breakthroughs is a slight bit of hypochondria. When I read about researchers finding that circadian rhythm genes help to regulate the brain’s reward system and could also play a role in addiction, I immediately wondered if a minor caffeine and major sugar addict could have defective versions of these genes. (Scientific American, June 15, 2005)
Colleen A. McClung of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and her colleagues studied mice lacking a circadian rhythm gene known as Clock. Compared to control animals, mice without Clock were hyperactive and became even more so after being given cocaine. What is more, they also found the drug more rewarding than normal mice did. Finally, Clock-deficient animals exhibited increased activity in the dopamine neurotransmitter system in the brain, which is heavily stimulated by cocaine use. “We found that the Clock gene is not only involved in regulating sleep/wake cycles, but is also very involved in regulating the rewarding responses to drugs of abuse,” McClung says.
It seems like a vicious cycle. Not only could some people be more likely to become addicted to drugs, they’d have more time to do drugs because they need less sleep. These findings may even be applicable to sugar addiction and late night snacking.
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POSTED IN: Genetics of Disease
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4 opinions for Addiction and the Clock Gene
Krissy
Jun 22, 2005 at 1:01 pm
So what does it mean if I’m someone who needs 8 hours of sleep a night to function, 10 hours to be happy, and 12 hours to have a lie-in, and yet snarffle down the sugar like it’s… um… sugar.
SNARFLE!
Does it just mean that, while genetically sound, I have no personal will, or if I do I’m willing to subvert that for my own gluttenous pleasure? Because I thought it might.
Stephanie
Jun 22, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Interesting… I used to be heavily addicted to sugar, and still like my caffeine. But as my diet has improved, I find I sleep much better and longer.
Lei
Jun 22, 2005 at 10:57 pm
Krissy, It just means you have dominion over your genes. :P
Stephanie, Thanks for your comment. Sleep is one of the most critical and often overlooked component to good health so it makes sense that as your diet improves, your sleep cycle does as well.
Krissy
Jun 23, 2005 at 2:26 pm
"Krissy, It just means you have dominion over your genes. :P"
Well my ass certainly does.
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