American Addiction Centers
American Addiction Centers
The Fruit Fly Phenomenon: What Fruit Flies Can Reveal to Us About Alcohol Addiction with Kristin Scaplen
The Fruit Fly Phenomenon: What Fruit Flies Can Reveal to Us About Alcohol Addiction with Kristin Scaplen
The Fruit Fly Phenomenon: What Fruit Flies Can Reveal to Us About Alcohol Addiction with Kristin Scaplen
Thursday 16th November 2023
Discover how Dr. Kristin Scaplen's research with fruit flies is transforming our understanding of alcohol addiction and offering hope for new treatments.
40 minutes
Hopeful
Informative
Empowering
Transformative
Inspiring
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American Addiction Centers
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Get the buttons here!Tiny Flies, Big Insights: Alcohol Addiction Unveiled Through Fruit Fly Research
Episode Overview
- Fruit flies share a significant percentage of genes with humans, making them an excellent tool for understanding the genetic and behavioural impact of alcohol
- Research with fruit flies provides a unique opportunity to observe how alcohol exposure shapes the brain and leads to dependence
- Dr. Scaplen's pioneering research sheds light on the critical role of memory circuits in addiction and how disruptions contribute to cravings and relapse
- Her work represents a significant step towards unravelling the complexities of addiction and potentially finding a cure
- Dr. Scaplen's dedication to understanding addiction as a disease offers hope for the millions impacted by alcohol addiction
I am very hopeful. In fact, that is what keeps me going to my lab. So I sure hope so.
Ever thought fruit flies could hold the key to understanding alcohol addiction? In this episode of 'Addiction Talk', Dr. Kristin Scaplen, an Assistant Professor at Bryant University, reveals how these tiny insects are helping us unravel the complexities of addiction. Dr. Scaplen, with her extensive background in neuroscience, delves into the neural circuits and memory persistence linked to alcohol use, using fruit flies as her model.
You might be surprised to learn that fruit flies share a whopping 75% of the genes that cause human diseases. This genetic similarity makes them invaluable in studying the biological processes affecting human health, including addiction. Dr. Scaplen's research shows that fruit flies voluntarily consume alcohol-laden food, build tolerances, and even develop preferences for cues associated with alcohol, much like humans. By examining these behaviours, she aims to understand how alcohol exposure shapes the brain and leads to dependence.
Her findings highlight the critical role of memory circuits in addiction and how disruptions in these circuits contribute to cravings and relapse. The episode offers a fascinating glimpse into how Dr. Scaplen's pioneering work could revolutionise our approach to treating alcohol addiction. Her dedication to understanding addiction as a disease and her innovative use of fruit flies provide hope for developing effective treatments.
If you're curious about cutting-edge addiction research or looking for new perspectives on recovery, this episode is a must-listen.