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alcohol addiction

·June 26, 2018·6 min read

A New Way to Block Alcohol Addiction and Ease Withdrawal Discovered

Activating a receptor found in neurons in the habenula could help treat alcohol addiction and ease withdrawal symptoms, researchers report.

This is a drawing od a rat with the effects of neuroplasticity and alcohol highlighted on different body parts

Featured Neuroscience

·February 10, 2021·3 min read

Adult Neurogenesis May Hold Clues for More Effective Treatment of Alcoholism

A new series of studies review the roles neuroplasticity and neurogenesis play in alcohol addiction and recovery.

This is a cartoon of a person watering a family tree with alcohol

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·February 10, 2020·5 min read

Alcoholism in the family affects how your brain switches between active and resting states

Having a parent with an alcohol use disorder affects how your brain transitions between active and resting states, regardless of your own drinking habits.

This shows a brain with a neutral network spreading from the PFC. A drink glass is behind the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 16, 2025·5 min read

Boosting Prefrontal Dopamine Shows Promise in Cutting Alcohol Use

A new study reveals that tolcapone, a dopamine-enhancing drug, strengthens brain circuits involved in self-control while reducing alcohol intake in people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). The drug boosts activity in the inferior frontal gyrus, part of the prefrontal cortex, which supports inhibitory control.

Image shows a person behind smashed glass.

Featured Neurology Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 14, 2017·4 min read

Brain Injury in Kids Might Lead to Alcohol Abuse

According to a new Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience study, children who experienced TBI under the age of 5 were 3.6 times more likely to have problems with substance abuse as teens. Finding suggest traumatic brain injuries during early life could be a risk factor for alcohol abuse later in life.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 18, 2020·7 min read

Can Memory Manipulation Help Treat Alcohol Addiction?

Manipulating memory via optogenetics mitigated addiction-related behaviors.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 16, 2020·4 min read

Chronic Alcohol Use Reshapes the Brain’s Immune Landscape, Driving Anxiety and Addiction

Study identifies inflammatory mechanisms and cellular activity in the amygdala that drives alcohol addiction in mice. Chronic alcohol exposure compromises immune cells in the brain, driving anxiety and alcohol consumption that may lead to the development of AUD.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 14, 2018·5 min read

Colder, Darker Climates Increase Alcohol Consumption and Liver Disease

According to researchers, those who live in colder regions with less daytime sun light drink more alcohol than those who live in warm areas. Climate, researchers say, may impact the prevalence of alcoholism and alcoholic cirrhosis.

This shows the outline of a stressed person and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2026·9 min read

Direct Link Between Stress and Addiction Found

Researchers discovered a brain pathway linking stress centers directly to habit regions. While stress normally promotes flexibility, alcohol disrupts this circuit, explaining why stress leads to compulsive drinking and relapse.

This shows a man and a glass of whiskey.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·October 28, 2025·4 min read

Gene That Controls How Sensitive You Are to Alcohol Discovered

Researchers have discovered that a gene called CHRNA3 plays a key role in determining alcohol sensitivity, helping explain why some people tolerate alcohol better than others. When this gene was mutated, subjects were slower to avoid alcohol and consumed more of it, showing reduced sensitivity to its calming effects.