Alcohol Use Disorder News and Research

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Newer GLP-1 medications may reduce alcohol-related hospitalization risk

Use of newer GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide or tirzepatide) for obesity or diabetes by people with alcohol-use disorder was associated with a reduction in alcohol-related admissions to hospital, finds a study published online in the open access journal BMJ Open.

21 Jul 2026

Heavy drinking linked to next day cognitive problems in students

When college students drink very heavily or to the point of blacking out, they're more likely to report poorer cognitive functioning the next day, like forgetting someone's name or having trouble making decisions, according to new research from the University of Oregon.

22 Apr 2026

Brain immune cells drive persistent negative emotions after repeated binge drinking

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).

12 Jan 2026

Altered stress signaling helps explain relapse in alcohol use disorder

A new study by Scripps Research reveals that alcohol dependence disrupts two signaling pathways in a stress-related part of the brain-and offers insights on developing drugs to treat this condition.

22 Dec 2025

Parental leniency toward binge drinking is tied to heavier alcohol use in Greek students

Parental permissiveness toward heavy episodic drinking is higher among Greek-affiliated students and their parents during the transition from high school to college. Students who perceive greater parental approval of heavy drinking report more frequent alcohol use, with this relationship differing by Greek affiliation.

7 Dec 2025

Chronic drinking weakens the blood-brain barrier through the gut

Chronic alcohol consumption disrupts the blood-brain barrier, but Faecalibacterium prausnitzii shows promise in repairing this damage and improving cognition.

27 Nov 2025

Study suggests cannabis may temporarily curb alcohol consumption

The "California sober" trend, which involves ditching alcohol in favor of cannabis, is gaining momentum, spreading from Hollywood to health influencers to homes across America.

21 Nov 2025

Study uncovers a surprising connection between sugar metabolism and alcohol addiction

Scientists have uncovered a surprising connection between sugar metabolism and alcohol addiction, identifying a potential new therapeutic target for treating alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD).

10 Nov 2025

Exploring endogenous retroviruses as hidden drivers of alcohol use disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD), characterized by uncontrollable alcohol consumption due to physical and psychological dependence, affects approximately 14.1 million people in the U.S.

7 Nov 2025

AI helps detect early signs of alcoholism in firefighters with 80% accuracy

A deep learning model using brain scans and tests predicts alcohol use disorder risk in firefighters, enhancing mental health strategies in high-stress jobs.

5 Nov 2025

Heavy drinking fuels Alzheimer’s disease by igniting brain inflammation and protein damage

Chronic alcohol use accelerates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression by intensifying oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and amyloid-tau pathology through shared molecular pathways. The review highlights emerging therapies, targeting TLR4, GSK-3β, and metabolic dysfunction, that may mitigate alcohol-induced neurodegeneration.

20 Oct 2025

Study reveals how gut fungi influence the brain’s dopamine response to alcohol

Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences have found a surprising connection between a fungus associated with alcohol use disorder and the brain's dopamine reward pathway.

16 Oct 2025

One in four U.S. hepatologists screen positive for unhealthy alcohol use

One in four hepatologists in the United States screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use in a survey study conducted by UCLA.

16 Oct 2025

GLP-1 medications found to slow alcohol absorption and lessen intoxication

There's mounting evidence that popular drugs prescribed for diabetes management and weight loss - better known by trade names like Ozempic and Wegovy - could be effective in reducing alcohol use.

15 Oct 2025

GLP-1 therapeutics may have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction

A popular class of therapies for treating diabetes and obesity may also have the potential to treat alcohol and drug addiction, according to a new paper published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

9 Oct 2025

Targeting the cerebellum to ease alcohol withdrawal symptoms

By targeting a specific area of the brain, researchers at Washington State University may now hold the key to curbing the debilitating symptoms of alcohol withdrawal that push many people back to drinking.

30 Sep 2025

Alcohol raises dementia risk at every level of drinking, genetic study shows

Researchers using two major cohorts and Mendelian randomization found that alcohol consumption, whether light or heavy, raises the risk of dementia. Genetic evidence shows no safe level of drinking, challenging the belief that moderate intake protects brain health.

25 Sep 2025

FAU study explores how a new drug may help treat PTSD and its common companions

About 12 million adults in the United States are affected by PTSD, impacting between 4% and 8% of the adult population – and up to 30% of military personnel and veterans.

24 Sep 2025

Alcohol-related mortality in the US surged 89% since 1999

A national study reveals a sharp rise in alcohol-induced deaths during COVID-19, with women and Native communities facing the greatest impact.

23 Sep 2025

Genetic study shows dual GIPR/GLP1R action curbs binge alcohol use

Researchers used drug-target Mendelian randomization to test whether genetically proxied activation of GLP1R and GIPR influences alcohol-related behaviors. They found that GIPR, especially when combined with GLP1R, was linked to lower binge and heavy drinking, healthier food preferences, improved liver markers, and reduced coronary artery disease risk.

15 Sep 2025