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Discovery Could Lead to New Therapies for Alcoholism [ and why not the propensity for aggression and criminality ] BALTIMORE ,  Feb. 28, 2011  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- University of Maryland School of Medicine  researchers have identified two genes associated with binge drinking that may open doors to new, more effective treatments for excessive alcohol drinking. The scientists found that manipulating two receptors in the brain, GABA receptors and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), "caused profound reduction" of binge drinking for two weeks in rodents that had been bred and trained to drink excessively. The study was published online the week of  Feb. 28  in the journal the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .... The new study found that treatments that manipulate both the GABA receptor and toll-like receptor 4 have the potential to reduce anxiety and control cravings, with little to no risk for addiction, according to lead investigator  Harry June , Ph.D., professor