According t a study conducted into understanding the reasons for alcoholism, and whether it has anything to do with brain function, rather dysfunction, has thrown up interesting facts.

The results revealed that alcoholism may be due to a dysfunction in a specific brain pathway responsible to keep drinking in check. The study was conducted by researchers of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of USA.

The study says that difficulty in saying no to alcohol, even when it could clearly lead to harm, is a defining feature of alcohol use disorder. Some complex human behaviours including emotion, anxiety, and motivation are regulated by the outer layers of the brain-cortex that are primarily responsible for brain processes like decision-making. Alcohol has a very broad effects on the brain.

To devise effective treatments for alcoholism, scientists need to first understand the difference in the wiring of a normal person’s brain and an alcoholic’s brain. Current treatments aren’t enough. Nearly half of all people treated for alcohol use disorder, relapse within a year of seeking a treatment.