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Brain inflammation may result in addiction later in life

By Staff Writer

Rehabilitation facilities can help individuals struggling with addiction, but many factors contribute to substance abuse. A new study has found that individuals who suffer from brain inflammation early in life have a heightened risk of becoming addicted to drugs in the future.

Researchers at the University of Mississippi Medical Center made the conclusion after conducting a series of tests on rats. When the subjects were given large amounts of lipopolysaccharide, a toxin that is created by a particular bacteria, their immune systems flared. Researchers found that the rats that were given doses of methamphetamine were more likely to develop an addiction to the drug after suffering from inflammation.

Experts say that the inflammation causes damage to the part of the brain that deciphers rewards for behavior. However, this damage may not be identified until an individual struggles with addiction to a serious drug.

Drug addiction costs taxpayers $484 billion every year, according to Drug Addiction Support, a statistics website. Rehabilitation facilities can help individuals struggling with addiction, but research is continuing to help experts understand the influencing factors of drug abuse.