Drugs that diminish the pleasure of nicotine rather than satisfy cravings could be the way forward in the fight against smoking. Nicotine replacement therapy including patches, gums and inhalators could become obsolete thanks to a breakthrough in medical research.
This new type of treatment aims to help people to quit by suppressing the hormone released that creates a feeling of reward after a cigarette. Potentially, this could be used to conquer a number of addictions including alcohol, amphetamines and even cocaine.
GLP-1 is the hormone responsible for feelings of satisfaction after eating. It is also responsible for the sense of reward gained from nicotine. Consequently, it has been reasoned that suppression of this satisfaction would lessen the desire to smoke. A synthetic version of Exendin-4, the peptide able to block GLP-1, is currently used to treat diabetes and could have this effect.
A study on mice suggested this could be an effective way to help smokers to quit. The dopamine and activity levels of the mice were measured after having been given a dose of nicotine. Those that had been given a dose of Exendin-4, to block the GLP-1 receptors beforehand, did not have as large a dopamine release from the nicotine. This indicates that the pleasure had been reduced.
Research has shown that only one in five people who try to stop smoking using current treatment are still smoke-free a year later. It is hoped that by quelling the desire to smoke rather than just diminishing cravings, the chance of relapse after quitting will be much smaller.
However there are potentially risks with suppressing feelings of gratification. For instance, this treatment could affect the sense of reward from exercise and other achievements, which could be damaging to an individual. More research on how blocking these receptors affects brain chemistry could lead ultimately mean more people giving up for good.
Isabel Roberts
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