How alcohol changes sleep and daily activity through orexin (hypocretin)
Effects of alcohol on sleep/activity rhythms: Focus on Hypocretin/Orexin
This project looks at how drinking, especially starting in the teen years or later, can change sleep and daytime activity by affecting the brain chemical orexin.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11121801 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You should know researchers are using rat models that mimic human binge drinking to study long-term sleep problems after alcohol. They use a small wearable 'Fitbit'-like system for rats to track sleep and daytime activity alongside brain wave (EEG) recordings. The team compares alcohol exposure beginning in adolescence versus adulthood and examines how the orexin (hypocretin) system is involved. They will also test potential treatments in these models to see whether sleep disruption and increased drinking can be reduced.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with heavy drinking or alcohol use disorder, including those who began drinking in adolescence or who have persistent insomnia after drinking, would be most relevant.
Not a fit: People whose sleep problems are unrelated to alcohol use or who have no history of heavy drinking are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to treat alcohol-related insomnia and daytime sleepiness and help people maintain sobriety.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human and animal studies have linked alcohol to long-lasting sleep disruption, and rat EEG work has shown similar changes, but using wearable tracking in rats and targeting orexin for therapy is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ehlers, Cindy L — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Ehlers, Cindy L
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 below.