Jan 12, 2026 10:30 PM
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1112326
EXCERPTS: New research has identified that neuroinflammation driven by microglia (immune cells in the brain) is a primary underlying driver of prolonged negative feelings caused by repeated, sustained binge drinking (binge exposure). Negative emotional states caused by alcohol contribute to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its associated mental health conditions such as depression.
The findings from a study in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, open the door for immune therapies to treat AUD, for which effective treatments are currently limited.
[...] The investigators found that longer alcohol exposure, but not shorter alcohol exposure (10 days vs 4 days in this model), led to brain damage and negative emotional states because the brain's microglia were activated, leading to long-lasting neuroinflammation. Preventing proinflammatory microglia activation during 10 days of alcohol exposure blocked the alcohol-induced neuronal death and prevented the development of anxiety during withdrawal and persistent fear memory during abstinence.
Lead investigator Leon G. Coleman, Jr., MD, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, explains, “Our findings underscore that repeated bouts of heavy drinking induce neuroinflammation, perpetuating a vicious cycle that locks individuals into chronic negative emotions. These biological consequences emphasize the critical need to avoid heavy drinking.”
Nearly 95 million individuals worldwide experience AUD, which is characterized by difficulty in ceasing alcohol use despite adverse effects on health and/or social life. Current treatments for AUD include pharmacotherapies (naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram), behavioral interventions, and support groups. Despite these options, approximately 60% of individuals with AUD relapse within the first year after treatment.
There are currently no medications that target hyperkatifeia caused by alcohol misuse. These negative emotions not only contribute to risk for AUD but are also associated with other psychiatric disorders... (MORE - missing details, no ads)
EXCERPTS: New research has identified that neuroinflammation driven by microglia (immune cells in the brain) is a primary underlying driver of prolonged negative feelings caused by repeated, sustained binge drinking (binge exposure). Negative emotional states caused by alcohol contribute to alcohol use disorder (AUD) and its associated mental health conditions such as depression.
The findings from a study in The American Journal of Pathology, published by Elsevier, open the door for immune therapies to treat AUD, for which effective treatments are currently limited.
[...] The investigators found that longer alcohol exposure, but not shorter alcohol exposure (10 days vs 4 days in this model), led to brain damage and negative emotional states because the brain's microglia were activated, leading to long-lasting neuroinflammation. Preventing proinflammatory microglia activation during 10 days of alcohol exposure blocked the alcohol-induced neuronal death and prevented the development of anxiety during withdrawal and persistent fear memory during abstinence.
Lead investigator Leon G. Coleman, Jr., MD, PhD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, explains, “Our findings underscore that repeated bouts of heavy drinking induce neuroinflammation, perpetuating a vicious cycle that locks individuals into chronic negative emotions. These biological consequences emphasize the critical need to avoid heavy drinking.”
Nearly 95 million individuals worldwide experience AUD, which is characterized by difficulty in ceasing alcohol use despite adverse effects on health and/or social life. Current treatments for AUD include pharmacotherapies (naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram), behavioral interventions, and support groups. Despite these options, approximately 60% of individuals with AUD relapse within the first year after treatment.
There are currently no medications that target hyperkatifeia caused by alcohol misuse. These negative emotions not only contribute to risk for AUD but are also associated with other psychiatric disorders... (MORE - missing details, no ads)