New Study Reveals Genetic Factors Influencing Success in Quitting Smoking
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The effectiveness of a common drug to quit smoking could be down to people's genes, according to a study from the University of Leicester (United Kingdom). Varenicline is widely recognised as the most effective medication for helping people stop smoking, but unfortunately it does not work for everyone.
Researchers from Leicester have uncovered important insights into how people’s DNA affects their response to the drug, which will soon be available to smokers. Varenicline works by targeting specific receptors in the brain to block the rewarding effects of smoking and reduce cravings.
An international team of researchers developed a method to use electronic health records to identify people who successfully stopped smoking with varenicline and those who did not.
The study, published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research, uncovered individual genetic variants (small differences in the DNA sequence) linked to stopping smoking using varenicline. The identified genetic variants highlight the involvement of genes in regulating gene activity and in the function of hair-like extensions of cells, called cilia.
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