{"id":12968,"date":"2024-12-20T22:51:56","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T22:51:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=12968"},"modified":"2024-12-20T22:51:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T22:51:58","slug":"study-uncovers-how-alcohol-use-disorder-hinders-brains-adaptability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/study-uncovers-how-alcohol-use-disorder-hinders-brains-adaptability\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Uncovers How Alcohol Use Disorder Hinders Brain&#8217;s Adaptability"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study from Texas A&amp;M University reveals how chronic alcohol consumption impairs cognitive flexibility by altering the brain&#8217;s cholinergic interneurons. Discover the scientific insights and potential therapeutic targets unveiled by this pivotal research.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0dfbf163 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px;\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A new study by Texas A&amp;M University has unveiled intricate mechanisms illustrating how chronic alcohol use disrupts crucial brain functions. The research, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.science.org\/doi\/10.1126\/sciadv.adn2446\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Science Advances, delves into the role of cholinergic interneurons (CINs) and how their activity is altered by alcohol, profoundly impacting cognitive flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a global health crisis, affecting around 400 million individuals and contributing to severe conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and stroke. Beyond these physical consequences, AUD significantly impairs brain functions like learning, memory and adaptability \u2014 core components of cognitive flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Researchers at Texas A&amp;M University College of Medicine, led by Zhenbo Huang, an associate research scientist in the laboratory of\u00a0Jun Wang, have illuminated a critical aspect of this disorder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their findings reveal that chronic alcohol consumption disturbs the brain&#8217;s ability to adapt by altering the burst-pause firing patterns of specialized neurons called CINs, which release acetylcholine, a vital neurotransmitter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDopamine neurons drive the brain\u2019s reward system, while CINs act as the gatekeepers, filtering stimuli that activate these neurons,\u201d Wang, an associate professor at Texas A&amp;M College of Medicine, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/vitalrecord.tamu.edu\/study-reveals-how-alcohol-use-disorder-impairs-cognitive-flexibility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study utilized advanced methodologies such as optogenetics to manipulate CIN activity and fiber photometry to observe acetylcholine release in real time. These approaches allowed the researchers to explore the distinct functions of different CIN firing phases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They discovered that the &#8220;burst&#8221; phase aids in extinction learning, the process of unlearning old behaviors, while the &#8220;pause&#8221; phase is crucial for reversal learning, which involves adopting new behaviors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cReversal learning is a cornerstone of cognitive flexibility,\u201d Wang added. \u201cIt allows individuals to unlearn behaviors when rules or circumstances change \u2014 a process heavily reliant on acetylcholine signaling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chronic alcohol exposure in animal models disrupted the normal burst-pause pattern of CINs, resulting in shorter and weaker pauses. This alteration impaired critical learning processes such as reversal learning, emphasizing the profound impact of alcohol on cognitive functions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe burst and pause dynamics of CINs are critical for behavioral adaptability,\u201d Wang added. \u201cThis study highlights their unique roles and lays the groundwork for exploring how similar mechanisms might influence conditions beyond addiction, including aging and neurodegenerative diseases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The findings not only expand our understanding of the neural underpinnings of AUD but also suggest potential therapeutic targets for addressing cognitive impairments associated with alcohol use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the Wang team continues to explore the impact of CIN dynamics on brain health, there is hope for translating these discoveries into innovative treatments for various brain disorders, potentially offering relief for millions affected by addiction and other cognitive impairments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new study by Texas A&amp;M University has unveiled intricate mechanisms illustrating how chronic alcohol use disrupts crucial brain functions. The research, published in Science Advances, delves into the role of cholinergic interneurons (CINs) and how their activity is altered by alcohol, profoundly impacting cognitive flexibility. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a global health crisis, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12968","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"A new study by Texas A&amp;M University has unveiled intricate mechanisms illustrating how chronic alcohol use disrupts crucial brain functions. The research, published in Science Advances, delves into the role of cholinergic interneurons (CINs) and how their activity is altered by alcohol, profoundly impacting cognitive flexibility. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a global health crisis,&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12968","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12968"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12968\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12984,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12968\/revisions\/12984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12968"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12968"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12968"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}