Are Alcoholism and Anxiety Connected?

Though it may seem common knowledge that alcoholics deal with anxiety, researchers are searching for a medical reason that the two may be inextricably linked.

In their search, researchers from UIC conducted animal laboratory tests that showed how a protein in the neurons in the amygdala, the area of the brain associated with anxiety, affects alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Normally, the neuron sends signals through dendritic spines to communicate, but when exposed to alcohol dendritic spines increase in the amygdala, creating an anti-anxiety effect through a protein called Arc and a hormone called BDNF.

They also found that when the animals were withheld alcohol they developed high anxiety and when they raised the BDNF and Arc levels back to normal, the animals were okay. Lowered Arc and BDNF in the amygdale showed increased anxiety.

The researchers believe this proves that molecular processes taking place within the neurons are responsible for anxiety and alcoholism. They also believe that people with anxiety may use alcohol to deal with the anxiety and then in turn, they feel more anxiety when they are going through the withdrawal period of alcohol.

This may help to explain why alcohol relieves stress, but then continued alcohol use is required to keep stress levels down.









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