FLY IN THE OINTMENT

The amazing discoveries found using fruit flies. This week: Why we drown sorrows WHY do depression and stress often drive people to drink and drugs? Lovelorn fruit flies may hold the answer.

In 2012, neurologists at the University of California, San Francisco, found male fruit flies are more likely to choose to eat alcoholic food if they’ve been sexually rejected by females.

The study, in the journal Science, revealed that a chemical in the fly’s brain, neuropeptide F (NPF), is behind the behaviour. Male flies have low NPF levels if sexually rejected. This seems to drive them to seek reward in alcohol — given extra NPF artificially, the rejected males shunned the alcohol.

Humans have a similar brain chemical, NPY. Studies have found low NPY levels in people with anxiety and post-traumatic stress, particularly those with alcohol and drug problems.

Scientists are now working to see if artificial NPY may help, says a report in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology.