Surgeons are beginning a pioneering trial to test the effectiveness of brain implants in reducing cravings for alcohol and opioids. The study, led by experts from Cambridge, Oxford, and King’s College London, will investigate whether controlled electrical pulses can help manage addiction. The goal is to determine if deep brain stimulation (DBS) can reduce cravings and increase self-control, providing a new approach to treating substance dependency.
Deep Brain Stimulation: A Proven Treatment for Neurological Disorders
Brain implants, which send electrical pulses to specific brain areas, have already been proven to help patients with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). With this new trial, researchers are expanding the use of DBS to combat addiction, a rising issue globally.
Professor Valerie Voon, the lead investigator from Cambridge University’s psychiatry department, explained the mechanism behind this treatment: “Deep brain stimulation works like a pacemaker. Just as pacemakers regulate abnormal heart rhythms, a brain implant can stabilize irregular brain activity associated with addiction.” This trial will test the hypothesis that brain stimulation can effectively manage the cravings linked to addiction.
Expanding the Scope of Brain Implants
Over 250,000 people worldwide have already received brain implants to manage neurological disorders, making them a growing tool in modern medicine. For Parkinson’s patients, these implants send pulses to motor centers in the brain to reduce tremors and involuntary movements. The success of these treatments has led to investigations into their potential to treat addiction.
Small-scale studies have suggested that DBS could also benefit alcohol and opioid addicts by stabilizing brain activity and diminishing cravings. With addiction rates continuing to rise, particularly in the UK, experts are now launching the first full clinical trial to test this promising technique on substance dependency.
Addiction and Its Impact
Addiction, particularly to alcohol and opioids, remains a significant public health issue. In the UK alone, hundreds of thousands of people struggle with alcohol dependence, with many also experiencing anxiety, depression, and other related mental health challenges. Opioid addiction is similarly alarming, with opioids like heroin and morphine involved in nearly half of all fatal drug overdoses.
Professor Voon highlighted the societal impact of addiction: “Severe addiction prevents people from working and increases their risk of overdose. Addiction doesn’t just affect the individuals—it affects families, including parents, siblings, spouses, and children. Tackling addiction is crucial for the well-being of society as a whole.”
How the Trial Will Work
The trial, named Brain-Pacer (Brain Pacemaker Addiction Control to End Relapse), will involve 12 participants—six alcoholics and six opioid addicts. Each participant must have struggled with addiction for at least five years and experienced multiple relapses despite undergoing traditional treatments like medication and psychotherapy.
The trial will be conducted at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge and King’s College Hospital in London. Each participant will have a thin electrode implanted in a brain area connected to reward, motivation, and decision-making. The electrodes will be linked to a pulse generator implanted under the chest, which will send electrical impulses to the brain to regulate its activity and control cravings.
The goal is to reduce cravings and improve self-control through these electrical impulses,” said Voon. The trial will be randomized, with electrical pulses activated intermittently so that researchers can study the effects of both active and inactive stimulation.
A Potential Breakthrough in Addiction Treatment
Neurosurgeon Professor Keyoumars Ashkan, the trial’s lead surgeon at King’s College Hospital, emphasized the potential impact of the study: “Deep brain stimulation is a powerful technique that could change lives. If we prove its effectiveness, this will be a major breakthrough in treating addiction—a condition that affects both individuals and society on a large scale.”
If successful, this approach could offer new hope to millions struggling with addiction, providing an alternative treatment for individuals who have not responded well to traditional therapies.
As the trial unfolds, it could mark the beginning of a new era in addiction treatment. Deep brain stimulation offers the potential to reduce cravings, enhance self-control, and ultimately help those suffering from alcohol and opioid addiction regain control over their lives. The research team is hopeful that this trial will pave the way for a revolutionary treatment, making a real difference in the lives of individuals and their families.