Alcoholism is a rampant issue worldwide, causing thousands of deaths. New research suggests there may be a way to treat this disorder. A nasal spray of 'love hormone' oxytocin may help treat alcohol use disorder, according to a study conducted in mice.
Oxytocin plays a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth.
The study, published in the journal PLOS Biology, found that oxytocin blocks enhanced drinking in alcohol-dependent rats.
An earlier study , scientists had claimed to have successfully reversed the desire to drink in alcohol-dependent rats, paving the way for future therapies to treat alcoholism in humans.