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Health & Science3h 2m ago

Researchers analyzed almost 900 rats and identified several addiction-related genes, including a liver-related gene involved in cocaine metabolism, which could be a potential target for addiction treatment.

University of California San Diego

Who
Olivier George, Ph.D., Abraham A. Palmer, Ph.D., Montana Kay Lara, Ph.D. from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine
What
Researchers analyzed almost 900 rats and identified several addiction-related genes, including a liver-related gene involved in cocaine metabolism, which could be a potential target for addiction treatment.
When
Sun, 14 Jun 2026 16:28:00 GMT · 3h 2m ago
Where
University of California San Diego ·
Why
To learn more about the biology underlying cocaine addiction and map the genetic basis of behaviors associated with cocaine use.
The Frontline Impact

How this affects you

This discovery of a liver-based enzyme influencing cocaine-taking behavior suggests that addiction is not solely brain-centric but involves the entire body's processing of drugs. It opens new avenues for developing targeted treatments that could shift genetically susceptible individuals to be more resistant to cocaine addiction.

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  1. Currently Reading3h 2m ago
    Researchers analyzed almost 900 rats and identified several addiction-related genes, including a liver-related gene involved in cocaine metabolism, which could be a potential target for addiction treatment.
  2. Health & Science3h 2m ago
    Researchers analyzed almost 900 rats to map the genetic basis of behaviors associated with cocaine use and identified a potential target for addiction treatment, which is a liver-related gene involved in cocaine metabolism.
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