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Gene variants predict treatment success for alcoholism medication – 3
Narrator: This is NIH Health Matters. I’m Joe Balintfy. An experimental medication for alcoholism helps reduce drinking, especially among those with certain gene variants.
Litten: Those who had the LL genotype had fewer drinks per drinking day and more days abstinent.
Narrator: Dr. Raye Litten is with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He says serotonin transporter gene variant LL is associated with severe drinking problems.
Litten: They also did better than those who took the placebo.
Narrator: Serotonin, a brain chemical, contributes to feelings of reward and addiction. For more on this study, plus details on serotonin transporter gene variants and research on treatments for alcoholism, visit www.niaaa.nih.gov. Health Matters is produced by the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
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