Alcohol trigger may have been found

What do you find in postmortem male brain tissue samples from 14 chronic alcoholics and 14 age-matched male individuals with no history of alcohol abuse? The beta-catenin protein that is involved in cell signaling and development is found at higher levels in alcoholics than those without a history of alcoholism. "We have identified a protein that may be a cause of alcohol dependence and tolerance, suggesting the possibility of developing a drug to inhibit the molecule and treat the disease," said Qiang Gu, PhD, author and senior professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Source: Science Daily