Researchers seeking treatments for conditions ranging from addiction and obesity to Parkinson’s disease are focusing on medications that affect the dopamine system, the pleasure center of the brain, McClatchy Newspapers reported Oct. 6.

“We are looking at the potential for new medications that reduce the brain’s sensitivity to these conditioned drug cues and would give patients a fighting chance to manage their urges,” said researcher Anna Childress of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. “We have a brain hard-wired to appreciate rewards, and cocaine and other drugs of abuse latch onto this system.”

Jay Giedd of the National Institute of Mental Health explained, “If we make good decisions, our dopamine goes up. It tells our brain, you know, good call, that was the right move, you know, do that again next time, and it literally changes the anatomy of the brain. It strengthens certain connections. It decreases others.”

The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently announced findings from research into a cocaine vaccine that prevents the drug from entering the brain and overloading the dopamine system. NIDA also has funded research into a nicotine vaccine.