This brain structure is very sensitive. In order for everything to run smoothly biochemically, one thing in particular must not happen: No inflammatory processes may take place there. The amygdala is protected against this by the so-called interleukin 10, which is an inflammation brakeman.
Alcohol interferes with this interleukin protection. The researchers have observed that the interleukin level decreases in alcohol addicts – the inflammation level in the brain and the amygdala thus increases.
The second observation of the researchers: Only when the interleukin level is sufficiently high can the docking sites of the calming nerve messenger GABA fire properly – in other words, only then are they sufficiently sensitive to the calming impulse and only then do they pass it on properly.
In other words: alcohol suppresses the interleukin in the amygdala and this shatters the GABA radio traffic in precisely the control centre that is responsible for fear and stress. Even simpler: this is how permanent stress, anxiety and panic develop – which can supposedly only be alleviated by reaching for the bottle.
Interestingly, there are other studies that report that anti-inflammatory nutrients such as vitamin C or zinc also have positive effects in anxiety and panic patients. Perhaps this is the key.
Primary source: Science direct. IL-10 normalizes aberrant amygdala GABA transmission and reverses anxiety-like behavior and dependence-induced escalation of alcohol intake. Progress in Neurobiology
Secondary source (german)
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