PORTLAND, Ore. -- Some researchers at Oregon Health Sciences University think mice may hold the key to curing alcoholism.

KTVB

Scientists at the Portland Alcohol Research Center are trying to map the genes that react to alcohol in the lab mice.

 Link: Alcohol study

Characteristics of the genes include how the body reacts to alcohol and alcohol withdrawal, and how susceptible one could be to an addiction, according to OHSU.

Researchers noted that in some animals, particular genes have traits that lead to severe alcohol withdrawal.

One part of the study involves looking at genes that may cause high impulsiveness, which they said is a genetic risk factor for drinking or alcohol abuse.

They’re also using rhesus monkeys in the study. Scientists maintain that some monkeys develop patterns of abusive drinking that resemble alcohol dependent humans.