The finding suggests that estrogen is involved in nicotine addiction
A recently discovered brain circuit could explain why women tend to become addicted to nicotine more quickly than men. The results of the study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable disease and death. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are more than 480,000 smoking-related deaths in the United States alone each year. In Brazil 443 people die every day from the same cause.
In 2021, approximately 11% of U.S. adults reported smoking cigarettes, with men slightly more likely to smoke than women. Here, the most recent 2019 data from the National Health Survey (PNS) puts the total percentage of adult smokers at 12.6%, with 15.9% men and 9.6 women.
However, even if fewer women smoke, Studies indicate that women are more likely to develop nicotine addiction and this happens faster and with less exposure to the substance.
According to the Inca (National Cancer Institute), smoking among Brazilian men is decreasing, while among women it has remained stable.
“Studies show that women are more likely to develop nicotine addiction than men and are less successful in trying to quit,” says Sally Pauss, a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky School of Medicine in the US, who conducted research.
The role of estrogen
One clear difference between men and women is the amount of estrogen they have. Therefore, the researchers looked at a large library of genes known to be activated by this hormone, particularly those expressed in our brain.
Only one class of candidate genes met these criteria: those that code for a group of proteins called olfactomedins, which play several roles in the development of the nervous system. The researchers then performed a series of studies on human and rat uterine cells to better understand the interactions between olfactomedine, estrogen and nicotine.
They found that estrogen activates olfactomedicines which, in turn, are suppressed in the presence of nicotine in areas of the brain involved in reward and addiction. In other words, this olfactomedin intermediate could drive people to seek out nicotine to satisfy these reward circuits.
The discovery could lead to treatment
“If we can confirm that estrogen drives nicotine seeking and consumption through olfactomedicines, we can design drugs that can block this effect by targeting the altered pathways,” believes Pauss. This may make it easier to quit smoking.
This knowledge could be especially helpful for those who take estrogen in the form of oral contraceptives or are on hormone replacement therapy which, in theory, could increase their risk of developing a nicotine use disorder.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
