Alcohol and the brain: from genes to circuits. Issue 12 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Egervari, Gabor; Siciliano, Cody A.; Whiteley, Ellanor L.; Ron, Dorit
• Is Part Of: Trends in neurosciences. Volume 44:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 1004
• Page End: 1015
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: alcohol -- central nervous system -- intracellular signaling -- epigenetics -- neural circuits; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurophysiology -- Periodicals; Neurobiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2021.09.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0166-2236

Abstract

Abstract : Alcohol use produces wide-ranging and diverse effects on the central nervous system. It influences intracellular signaling mechanisms, leading to changes in gene expression, chromatin remodeling, and translation. As a result of these molecular alterations, alcohol affects the activity of neuronal circuits. Together, these mechanisms produce long-lasting cellular adaptations in the brain that in turn can drive the development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD). We provide an update on alcohol research, focusing on multiple levels of alcohol-induced adaptations, from intracellular changes to changes in neural circuits. A better understanding of how alcohol affects these diverse and interlinked mechanisms may lead to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and to the development of much-needed novel and efficacious treatment options. Highlights: Alcohol affects several levels of brain function, from cellular and molecular pathways to circuit-level activity. The effects of alcohol on the various levels of brain function are closely intertwined and underlie different aspects of AUD. Understanding this diverse and interlinked molecular, cellular, and circuit landscape will help to guide the development of future therapeutic approaches.