Janssen Immunology has a track record of defining and redefining the treatment of immune-mediated disease. With a systemic, evidence-driven, pathways-based approach, the organization is leading the industry in four significant pivots, which David M. Lee, M.D., Ph.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Immunology, joins us to discuss. First is a pivot from immune suppression to immune homeostasis. Second is a pivot from six anatomy-based diseases to more than 20 addressable diseases in focus. Third, is a pivot from a single treatment paradigm, namely injectable monotherapies, to utilizing the full range of modalities including novel tissue-directed and systemic orals and industry-first combination therapies. Then fourth, the result is a pivot on treatment goals: From a goal of signs and symptoms response to a goal of disease remission for all patients.
INTERVIEWS
Understanding The Effects Of Addiction On The Human Brain
When it comes to substance abuse or addiction, most of us consider it a bad habit. However, it is actually a health condition. The brain of an individual with addiction issues develops a dependency on a particular substance.
As a result, when an individual suffering from addiction issues tries to quit substance abuse, they encounter withdrawal symptoms. This is the time when the individual needs medical treatment and supervision.
If you want to know more about the treatment program, you must have a look at this page.
What Addiction Does To The Brain
When it comes to the effects of addiction in the brain, there are several levels of it. The chemical compounds present in sedatives, alcohol, opioids, nicotine, and stimulants enter the brain and also the bloodstreams after use.
Once any of the chemicals enter the brain, it has the potential to cause individuals to lose control of their impulses or start craving a harmful substance. When an individual develops an addiction towards a substance, the brain craves the rewards of that particular substance.
It is the result of the intense stimulation of our brain’s reward system. In response to that, several individuals continue the usage of the substance. Eventually, this might lead to a bunch of euphoric feelings and also strange behavioral traits.
Long-term addictions bring severe outcomes, like brain damage, and even can result in death.
The Complete Biochemistry of Addiction
On the basis of a number of factors, the brain responds to addiction. These factors include the number and type of the substance being used, the stage of addiction, the frequency of use. For example, in case a person is into cocaine, he or she will notice a feeling of euphoria.
As cocaine is psychoactive and also impacts the particular area of the brain which controls motivation and pleasure, there is a powerful and short burst of dopamine. It is the chemical responsible for an individual feeling euphoric.
This specific feeling can be so intense that it might form a strong desire to continue using cocaine. The more a person abuses a substance, the more he or she might continue using the same substance unless they are getting any assistance or help for overcoming the life-threatening addiction.
Once the chemical of the substance has left an impact on the brain, the affected person can feel several physical symptoms and also the impact of the chemical throughout their nervous system. These symptoms can include the following.
- Paranoia.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Hallucinations.
- Nausea and other disturbing sensations.
The individual often does not have considerable control over those sensations. The individual might become consumed with substance abuse in order to maintain their habit no matter what it costs.
This powerful grip of substance abuse causes individuals to start acting in unrecognizable ways. Eventually, that concerns their family and friends.
How Addiction Develop
The brain regulates coordination, breathing, decision-making, emotion, and temperature. The brain, the major organ of the body, also impacts cravings, a physical sensation of the body, habits, and compulsions.
Under the influence of a harmful and powerful chemical, people abusing substances, such as heroin or benzodiazepines, have the potential to alter the function of their brain.
In the brain, drugs interact with the limbic system in order to release strong feel-good emotions and affect the addicted person’s mind and body. For supporting the intense feel-good emotions, the individual continues to take drugs.
Eventually, it creates a whole cycle of intense highs and drug use. Over time, just to feel normal, they take the drug or substance.
The Brain, Addiction, And Withdrawal
As a consequence of drug addiction, the affected person’s brain rewards the harmful behavior. This very thing encourages substance abuse, keeping the addicted person in a cycle of highs and lows.
This way, the user starts to feel like they are on an emotional roller-coaster, feeling desperate and depressed without the substance they abuse. Once the individual stops using the substance all of a sudden, they start to feel harsh physical, emotional, and mental results.
The individual also can experience distressing symptoms, which they can not ignore for some substances. For some particular substances, withdrawal symptoms can be stronger than others.
At the withdrawal point, an individual who stops using heroin usually suffers from intense cravings, anxiety, depression, and also excessive sweating. Many of these are the results of the rewiring of the brain after extended use of heroin.
Over a considerate amount of time, a high amount of chemicals flood the individual’s brain. To the substance’s mental effects, the brain correspondingly adapts. Then the brain automatically reduces the production of neurotransmitters, which are the chemical messengers in the brain.
Often withdrawal symptoms require preferential treatment that is able to assist the chance of relapse majorly and also the risks of heart attack and stroke.
Brain Therapies For Addiction
When an individual is battling addiction, they enroll themselves in a treatment program, get access to innovative treatments and receive medications. These treatment programs include different types of therapies along with detoxification.
All those therapies included the following.
- DBT or dialectical behavioral therapy.
- CBT or cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Family and spouse therapy.
To know more about the addiction therapies, you can have a look at our home page.
FAQs
When it comes to substance abuse and its effects on the brain, we simply do not have much knowledge to be proud of. We end up having a lot of questions and queries. That is why here we are going to answer some of the most common questions.
Q1: How Does Addiction Impact The Brain?
Brain receptors become overwhelmed in the person who develops an addiction towards a substance. By producing less dopamine, the brain responds. In some cases, the response involves the elimination of dopamine receptors.
Q2: What Are The 3 Areas Of The Brain Affected By Addiction?
As per the scientific evidence, substance abuse disrupts mainly three areas of the brain, which are particularly important in the onset, maintenance, and development of substance abuse disorder. They are here;
- The extended amygdala.
- The prefrontal cortex.
- The basal ganglia.
Q3: What Parts Of The Brain Are Changed By Drug Use?
As per the National Institute of Drug Abuse, here are the regions of the brain that are disrupted by a substance or drug abuse.
- Cerebral cortex.
- Limbic system.
- Brain system.
Confidence Workshops Empower Girls to Pursue STEM
Laila Tai, PMP, Director of Individual Giving and Corporate Partnership at Girls Inc., headquartered in NYC, and Risa Rose, Director of Professional Relations at Allergan Aesthetics discuss the Girls Inc. and Allergan Aesthetics partnership to bring “Empowering Confidence Workshops”, now in its third year, to high school-aged girls interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics). The two-part mentoring program is designed to provide STEM-interested mentees from underserved communities in New York, Chicago, Houston and Atlanta, with the tips and tools they need to feel empowered and confident as they look towards their future education and career goals. Laila and Risa are joined by Dr. Caroline Robinson, board-certified medical and cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Tone Dermatology in Chicago, who shares her own experience looking for a STEM role model, her road to dermatology, and what it means to her to be a mentor to young women.
Study Shows New Diagnostic Test From Roche Can Help ID Which HPV+ Patients are at Higher Risk for Cervical Cancer
When a woman tests positive for HPV, it is vital to quickly determine whether or not she is likely to develop cervical cancer. In this segment, Dr. Carolyn Kay, Medical Affairs Leader in Cervical Cancer Solutions at Roche Diagnostics discusses a new study published in the “International Journal of Cancer” (Sep 18, 2021) that found that using Roche Diagnostics’ FDA approved CINtec PLUS Cytology dual-stain biomarker technology as a triage test can help clinicians determine who needs immediate follow-up and who would benefit from further observation and screening, a much less invasive approach.
Rethinking the Approach to Care for Children with ADHD
Dr. Elysa Marco, MD, Executive Director of Neurodevelopmental Medicine at Cortica Healthcare and Research Associate at the University of California San Francisco discusses her experience working with youth living with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions during this time of extreme change and challenges that the pandemic has brought. She can share details about the need for including new approaches for treatment, including brain training with digital therapeutics to improve patients’ health and lives.
New Survey Reveals Need to Improve Maternal Mental Health Planning
Approximately 1 in 8 mothers in the United States report experiencing symptoms of PPD each year. A new survey announced by HealthyWomen, sponsored by Sage Therapeutics, Inc., reveals the crucial need for maternal mental health planning and the opportunity for healthcare providers to support women in this process. Dr. Kristina Deligiannidis, MD, Director, Women’s Behavioral Health at Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health; Associate Professor of Psychiatry and OBGYN, Zucker School of Medicine, discusses ways HCPs can close this gap, and help prepare moms and their support systems. Dr. Deligiannidis also shares key findings from the survey and a new program called Check On Mom.
2021 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference – UCB Presented New Data on Bimekizumab
Returning guest, Dr. Jeffrey Stark, MD, Head of US Medical Immunology at UCB discusses new data from a network meta-analysis (NMA) demonstrating that bimekizumab was associated with the lowest number needed to treat (NNT) to achieve Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 (almost clear) and PASI 100 (completely clear) skin clearance levels compared with other approved biologic therapies used for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis within 16 weeks. These data were presented at the 2021 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference and AMCP Nexus 2021.
Exact Sciences – Multi-Cancer Earlier Detection
Screening and earlier detection are key in the fight against cancer. Exact Sciences is at the forefront of multi-cancer earlier detection, which has the power to close the screening gap and to get at that 70% of cancers that currently do not have routine screening options. Jake Orville, General Manager of Pipeline at Exact Sciences, shares his perspective on the latest innovations in multi-cancer earlier detection and other emerging technologies and talks about Exact Sciences’ proprietary testing platform, which can identify the minute fragments of circulating tumor DNA and proteins expressed that are causative across many types of cancer.
NantHealth – NaviNet and the No Surprises Act
Christina Perkins, Vice President of Product Management & Strategy for NaviNet discusses news surrounding the No Surprises Act requirements and deadlines. She talks about NantHealth’s NaviNet that gives providers an easy way to enter information necessary for payers to process an explanation of benefits (EOB) request. It’s an easy way for the payers and providers to collaborate and electronically document the info needed so all parties involved in the patient’s care understand the cost estimate and therefore recommend the appropriate level of care. NaviNet also ensures that provider directory info is reviewed and up-to-date.
Virtual Technology for Chronic Pain and Movement Disorders Relief
For patients suffering from chronic pain or movement disorders who don’t live close to a care provider or have difficulty accessing care for a variety of circumstances, a new first-of-its-kind virtual technology has the potential to increase access to optimal treatment. Dr. Juan Ramirez from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and his patient Darryn Wright are here to discuss this new technology called the Abbott NeuroSphere™ Virtual Clinic.