The poor development of the "love hormone" in early childhood increases the risk of addiction to drugs and alcohol, a new study finds.
Oxytocin, known as the "love hormone" or "bonding drug" plays an important role in enhancing social interactions, maternal behavior and partnership. University of Adelaide researchers found that the poor development of this hormone in early childhood increases the risk of addiction to drugs and alcohol.
"We know that newborn babies already have levels of oxytocin in their bodies, and this helps to create the all-important bond between a mother and her child," Dr Femke Buisman-Pijlman from the University of Adelaide said in a press statement. "But our oxytocin systems aren't fully developed when we're born - they don't finish developing until the age of three, which means our systems are potentially subject to a range of influences both external and internal."
Genetics, gender and environment play an important role in the development of oxytocin in our bodies. Since genes in our bodies cannot be altered, environmental factors are most influential when it comes to the development of the oxytocin until our systems are fully developed.
"Previous research has shown that there is a high degree of variability in people's oxytocin levels. We're interested in how and why people have such differences in oxytocin, and what we can do about it to have a beneficial impact on people's health and wellbeing," Buisman-Pijlman said.
Buisman-Pijlman also states that some risk factors for drug addiction already exist in our body by the time we're four years old. She says that since the hardware of the oxytocin system finishes developing by the age of three, this is a critical window to conduct studies regarding substance addiction.
Since experiences in life help in the development of oxytocins in the body, adversity in early life may impair development of the oxytocin system.
"This adversity could take the form of a difficult birth, disturbed bonding or abuse, deprivation, or severe infection, to name just a few factors," Dr Buisman-Pijlman said. "Understanding what occurs with the oxytocin system during the first few years of life could help us to unravel this aspect of addictive behaviour and use that knowledge for treatment and prevention."
The proper development of the oxytocin system is vital, not just to prevent addiction but also for additional health benefits. A study conducted earlier this month found that oxytocin is an effective treatment for anorexia nervosa. Another study conducted in November 2013 found that the hormone is responsible for keeping men committed in a relationship.
Findings of the study were published in the international journal Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior.
