Alcohol use disorder: Neurobiology and therapeutics
Date
2022
Authors
Yang, Waisley
Singla, Rohit
Maheshwari, Oshin
Fontaine, Christine J.
Gil-Mohapel, Joana
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Biomedicines
Abstract
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) encompasses the dysregulation of multiple brain circuits involved
in executive function leading to excessive consumption of alcohol, despite negative health and
social consequences and feelings of withdrawal when access to alcohol is prevented. Ethanol exerts
its toxicity through changes to multiple neurotransmitter systems, including serotonin, dopamine,
gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate, acetylcholine, and opioid systems. These neurotransmitter
imbalances result in dysregulation of brain circuits responsible for reward, motivation, decision
making, affect, and the stress response. Despite serious health and psychosocial consequences, this
disorder still remains one of the leading causes of death globally. Treatment options include both
psychological and pharmacological interventions, which are aimed at reducing alcohol consumption
and/or promoting abstinence while also addressing dysfunctional behaviours and impaired functioning.
However, stigma and social barriers to accessing care continue to impact many individuals.
AUD treatment should focus not only on restoring the physiological and neurological impairment
directly caused by alcohol toxicity but also on addressing psychosocial factors associated with AUD
that often prevent access to treatment. This review summarizes the impact of alcohol toxicity on
brain neurocircuitry in the context of AUD and discusses pharmacological and non-pharmacological
therapies currently available to treat this addiction disorder.
Description
Keywords
addiction, alcohol, alcohol use disorder, neurotransmitter, pharmacological therapy, non-pharmacological intervention
Citation
Yang, W., Singla, R., Maheshwari, O., Fontaine, C., & Gil-Mohapel, J. (2022). “Alcohol use disorder: Neurobiology and therapeutics.” Biomedicines, 10(5), 1192. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10051192