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alcohol

·October 16, 2025·6 min read

Gut Fungus Found to Disrupt Brain’s Alcohol Reward Pathway

A new study reveals that an overgrowth of Candida albicans, a common gut fungus, may alter the brain’s dopamine reward circuitry and influence alcohol consumption. Researchers found that as fungal populations increased, they triggered production of inflammatory molecules called PGE2, which crossed into the brain and changed dopamine signaling in the dorsal striatum.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 21, 2025·4 min read

Peer Pressure, Perceived Norms Drive Risky Drinking

A new study highlights how peer pressure and misperceptions about campus drinking norms can lead college students to drink more heavily than they intend. Many students believe their peers consume more alcohol than they actually do, which can increase risky behavior and negative outcomes.

This shows outlines of people and glasses.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2025·4 min read

Social Drinking, Not Solitary, Drives Most Alcohol-Related Harm

New research challenges the stereotype of the solitary drinker, showing that social drinking plays a central role in the development and consequences of alcohol use disorder. Studies reveal people consistently drink more in social settings, where heavy drinking often leads to serious harms like violence, risky sex, and traffic fatalities.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 6, 2025·6 min read

Romantic Partners Can Shape Genetic Risk for Binge Drinking

New research shows that romantic partners' habits and traits can influence how strongly genetic risk for binge drinking affects an individual. Using data from Finnish twins, scientists found that partners who smoke, show psychological distress, or exhibit low conscientiousness amplify genetic risk.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 4, 2025·12 min read

Why Alcohol Hits Women Harder

Alcohol use among women has surged to match men’s rates, but women face far greater health risks even at lower consumption levels. A growing body of research is uncovering key neurobiological sex differences that influence why and how women drink, with stress being a more prominent motivator for women.

This shows people drinking and lounging around.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 25, 2025·6 min read

These 3 Bad Habits in Your 30s Impact Later Mental Health

A decades-long study in Finland reveals that smoking, heavy drinking, and physical inactivity in early adulthood are strongly linked to declining physical and mental health by age 36. Participants with all three habits showed elevated depression symptoms, higher metabolic risk, and lower self-rated health and wellbeing scores.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 23, 2025·6 min read

Gut Microbiome Shifts Rapidly After Alcohol Use

A new study shows that combining heavy alcohol use with burn trauma causes severe disruptions in the gut microbiome, leading to inflammation and a weakened gut barrier. Within a day of injury, beneficial bacteria plummet, harmful microbes rise, and levels of butyrate—a key anti-inflammatory compound—drop significantly.

This shows a teen with a drink and brains.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 11, 2025·4 min read

Using Cannabis While Drinking May Lead to Riskier Behavior

Young adults often use alcohol and cannabis together, a behavior that may dull the perceived negative effects of drinking and increase the risk of alcohol-related harm. A recent study found that simultaneous use can reduce users’ awareness of alcohol’s effects, potentially leading to alcohol use disorder and dangerous behaviors like drunk driving.

This shows two heads, brains and a glass.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 10, 2025·3 min read

Heavy Drinking Linked to Brain Lesions and Cognitive Decline Risk

Consuming eight or more alcoholic drinks per week is associated with brain lesions known as hyaline arteriolosclerosis, which can impair memory and thinking. These lesions are signs of damaged blood vessels that restrict blood flow and gradually harm brain tissue.

This shows a man drinking and a brain in a glass.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 2, 2025·5 min read

Heavy Alcohol Use Causes Long-Term Brain Damage

For the first time, scientists have shown how heavy alcohol use leads to long-term cognitive impairments by damaging brain circuits responsible for decision-making. In a rat model, animals exposed to high alcohol levels performed significantly worse on a complex, shifting-reward task, even after nearly three months of sobriety.

Featured Neuroscience

·February 12, 2025·7 min read

Semaglutide Shows Promise in Reducing Alcohol Cravings and Consumption

A new study suggests that semaglutide, a drug commonly used for diabetes and obesity, may also help reduce alcohol consumption. Researchers found that weekly injections of semaglutide decreased alcohol cravings, drinking quantity, and heavy drinking days in adults with alcohol use disorder. Participants receiving semaglutide consumed less alcohol in a controlled lab setting and reported reduced cravings compared to those receiving a placebo.

This shows students in a messy dorm room.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 8, 2025·5 min read

Over Half of College Students Affected by Others’ Drinking

Over half of U.S. college students experience harm caused by others' drinking, highlighting the widespread impact of alcohol misuse on campuses. These harms range from babysitting intoxicated peers to experiencing verbal abuse, emotional distress, or even physical assaults.