Brain Mechanisms behind Addictive Behaviors: New Insights and Therapeutic Approaches
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2024 | Viewed by 54
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Drug addiction is a complex disease influenced by a multitude of genetic and environmental factors, and it is recognized as a global health problem. Exposure to drugs of abuse induces significant neuroadaptations in the brain's reward and stress circuits, potentially resulting in heightened consumption and susceptibility to relapse. In addition, such exposure can produce toxic effects in other organs and may trigger immune and inflammatory responses both peripherally and centrally. Currently, treatment options for substance use disorders are limited, with many exhibiting low-to-moderate effect sizes and response rates. This emphasizes the necessity of exploring new intervention approaches tailored to the different stages of addiction and related neuropsychiatric conditions. Among these promising alternative or complementary treatments are epigenetic-based drugs, psychedelics, treatments targeting neuroimmune mechanisms or the microbiota–gut–brain axis. The aim of this Special Issue is to enhance understanding of the cellular, molecular and neurochemical mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of substance use disorders, alongside identifying potential biomarkers and novel therapeutic strategies.
Prof. Dr. Víctor Echeverry-Alzate
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- addiction
- neurobiology
- microbiota–gut–brain axis
- epigenetics
- biomarkers
- treatment of addiction
