Research identifies lasting brain changes associated with adolescent binge alcohol exposure
New research from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine provides insight into how binge alcohol exposure during adolescence may cause lasting changes in brain function that persist into adulthood, potentially identifying a new target for future treatment approaches.
A recent study from the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine has uncovered lasting changes in brain function caused by binge alcohol consumption during adolescence. Published in Molecular Psychiatry, the research reveals that intermittent ethanol exposure during this critical developmental period disrupts communication between astrocytes and synapses in the hippocampus—a brain region vital for learning and memory.
These structural and functional disruptions persist into adulthood, even after a substantial period without alcohol. The findings suggest that improving astrocyte function could help partially reverse these effects. Dr. Mary-Louise Risher, an associate professor at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, explains that adolescent binge drinking can lead to long-term cognitive impairment and worsen mental health outcomes, increasing the risk of developing alcohol use disorder.
Using advanced techniques such as fiber photometry, chemogenetics, electrophysiology, and STED microscopy, researchers examined the impact of adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) on astrocyte-synaptic interactions in male rats. They found lasting disruptions in astrocyte-synaptic coupling and heightened fear-related behavior in adulthood after abstinence.
Stimulating astrocyte calcium signaling partially reduced the fear response and restored gliotransmitter availability, highlighting astrocytes as a potential therapeutic target for ameliorating the long-term consequences of adolescent binge drinking.
The study underscores the importance of astrocytes in regulating neuronal function and suggests that targeting astrocyte dysfunction could offer new strategies for improving brain health, particularly after alcohol exposure during critical developmental stages.
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