A team of researchers from Duke University Medical Center and the University of Melbourne has found thataddictive drugs like cocaine or heroin activate the same nerve cellsand brain connectionsthan a strong ancestral instinct: the appetite for salt.
In experiments with rodents, the researchers identified certain genes that are regulated in the hypothalamus and control the balance of salt, water, reproduction, and other biological rhythms. And what is more interesting: they found that the activation patterns of these genes that stimulate the instinctive behavior of the appetite for salt are identical to those that regulate drug addiction.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
? We have shown thata classic instinct, the urge to consume salt, has the same neural organization that causes addiction to opiates and cocaine“says Derek Denton, a co-author of the paper. Deep-seated pathways of an ancient instinct may explainWhy withdrawal-based detox treatments are so difficult. And detox treatments that do not involve abstinence, such as substituting methadone for heroin and gum or patches for cigarettes, make a case for success.
In addition, the finding? Could lead to a new understanding of addictions andHarmful consequences of obesity-promoting foods containing too much sodium“adds neurobiologist Wolfgang Liedtke. Everything points to the fact that the consumption of salt in large quantities causes a greater appetite for food. Furthermore, when the appetite for salt increases, the hypothalamus becomes more sensitive to the effects of dopamine, the neurotransmitter of reward and pleasure.
In nature, the innate appetite for salt is key to survival. Among wild animals, the ability to quickly meet the body’s sodium needs by greedily licking a high-salt solution can be vital in many circumstances.
