Brain enkephalin peptides that affect alcohol-related thinking problems
Official title: Examining the role of novel proenkephalin peptides in influencing alcohol-induced cognitive dysfunction
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11336892 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether natural brain peptides called enkephalins influence thinking and relapse risk for people with alcohol use disorder.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $526,293 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA031452-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11336892 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with alcohol use disorder, particularly those who struggle with relapse or have alcohol-related cognitive problems, are the people this research is most relevant to.
✕Less likely to help
People without alcohol use disorder or whose drinking problems arise from causes unrelated to opioid/enkephalin systems are unlikely to see direct benefit from this specific line of work.
What this research studies
This project focuses on natural brain chemicals called enkephalins that are released when alcohol is consumed and may change thinking and memory. The researchers use laboratory models to see how novel proenkephalin peptides and mu-opioid receptor signaling in the frontal cortex affect cognitive function and alcohol-seeking behavior. Their experiments examine biochemical changes after alcohol exposure and how altering these peptide signals changes relapse-like responses. The long-term aim is to identify targets that could guide new treatments to protect thinking and reduce return-to-drinking.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent relapse and improve thinking in people recovering from alcohol use disorder.
How similar studies have gone: Opioid-blocking drugs like naltrexone have helped reduce drinking in people, but targeting specific enkephalin peptides is a newer approach that has mainly been tested in animal studies so far.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Natividad, Luis Alberto — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Natividad, Luis Alberto
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
The WNK1/OSR1 protein pathway's role in brain insulin use and age-related memory loss
This project will see if the WNK1/OSR1 protein pathway makes the aging brain use insulin and sugar less well and whether fixing that can help memory in Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
-
HIV-related brain inflammation and the complement system explained
A study using a human brain model to understand how HIV drives brain inflammation and may cause cognitive problems by changing the brain’s immune system.
-
Subjective thinking challenges in adults with lupus as they age
This grant aims to understand how lupus-related cognitive problems affect adults, especially older adults, and tests a real-time method to track daily fluctuations in those symptoms.
-
Pain, Mood, and Thinking Problems in HIV- and AUD-risk Patients
A long-running NIH grant explores how alcohol use, HIV, and negative feelings affect thinking and pain, with the goal of improving care for people living with HIV who struggle with alcohol-related problems.
-
Thinking and brain changes in childhood lupus
This project uses brain scans and cognitive tests to learn why children with lupus sometimes have trouble with thinking and school.
-
Brain immune cells and cognitive trouble in lupus
A study in lupus patients and mouse models looks at how brain macrophages may be linked to thinking problems.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.