FeaturedNeuroscience·November 22, 2019·3 min readWhat leads to compulsive alcohol use?A network linking the medial prefrontal cortex and brainstem plays a critical role in the development of compulsive drinking disorder and is a driver for its expression.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·November 18, 2019·3 min readAdolescent drinking increases anxiety and alcohol abuse risk later in lifeTeenage binge drinking is linked to altered gene expression in the brain, specifically the central nucleus of the amygdala. Adolescent rats exposed to alcohol had increased levels of miR-137, resulting in lower expression of proteins essential for healthy neuron growth. During adulthood, these rats displayed higher levels of anxiety and an increased preference for alcohol consumption.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·November 18, 2019·3 min readKetamine reduces drinking in male rats, but not femalesKetamine reduced alcohol intake in male rat models of alcohol use disorder but increased the desire for alcohol in low-consumption females.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 31, 2019·5 min readOne in Ten older adults currently binge drinksAs many as one in ten older adults frequently binge drink, a new study reports. The risk of binge drinking in older adults is higher for males and for those who smoke or use cannabis.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·July 29, 2019·2 min readImpaired brain activity in rats with family history of alcohol abuseNeural patterns of activity in the medial prefrontal cortex associated with the intention to drink alcohol are influenced by the genetic risk for alcohol use disorder.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurosciencePsychology·July 18, 2019·4 min readRomantic partnerships mitigate influence of genetic predisposition to alcohol consumptionFor those with a genetic predisposition for alcohol use disorder (AUD), being in a romantic relationship appears to reduce the high risk to succumbing to alcohol abuse. This protective effect is limited to males only, suggesting males with a genetic risk for AUD may benefit more from romantic relationships.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·July 2, 2019·3 min readBrain imaging may help identify teens at risk of increasing alcohol useNeuroimaging study reveals teens with more gray matter in the caudate nucleus and left cerebellum were at increased risk of problem alcohol use over time. The findings reinforce the idea that brain structure differences may contribute to both psychiatric and substance use disorders.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·June 21, 2019·4 min readNeuroscience research questions current alcohol limitDrinking small amounts of alcohol, like one pint of beer or a large glass of wine, significantly impairs our feeling of being in control of our actions. A new study reveals even one beer can lead to overconfidence in driving ability and make us act in inappropriate, potentially dangerous ways. The study begs the question, are current alcohol limits for driving truly safe?Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·May 28, 2019·4 min readGWAS identifies new risk loci for harmful alcohol useGenome-wide study identifies five novel alcohol use risk loci which can pass on the risk of developing alcohol abuse disorder from parents to children.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·May 4, 2019·3 min readGender impacts brain activity in alcohol use disorderMen with alcohol use disorder have diminished brain activity in areas associated with emotional processing, memory and social processing, compared to women with AUD. The findings may lead to gender-specific treatments to help relieve addition to alcohol.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·April 16, 2019·3 min readOxytocin could help treat alcohol use disorder: Rat StudyAdministering oxytocin blocks the enhanced motivation for drinking alcohol that fuels alcohol use disorder by blocking GABA signaling in the central nucleus of the amygdala.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·April 3, 2019·5 min readAlcohol-induced brain damage continues after alcohol is stoppedContrary to popular belief that brain changes begin to normalize immediately after ceasing alcohol consumption, a new study reveals damage to the brain continues during the first weeks of abstinence.Read More