How alcohol changes stress hormones in the brain and body of people with alcohol use disorder
Characterizing brain-periphery cortisol dysregulation in AUD
This project looks at whether people with alcohol use disorder have different stress hormone levels in their brains compared with their blood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169085 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
As a participant, you would have stress hormone levels measured in your brain and in your blood so researchers can compare them. The team will examine the enzyme 11β-HSD1 that helps set brain cortisol levels to see if it explains persistent hormone changes linked to long-term drinking. They plan to use brain-based measures (such as imaging or other brain-specific tests) along with blood samples to get a complete picture. This work builds on animal studies that found lasting increases in brain stress hormones after chronic alcohol use and aims to see if similar patterns occur in people with alcohol use disorder.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with current or past alcohol use disorder, especially those with heavy or chronic drinking histories, are the most relevant candidates.
Not a fit: People without alcohol use disorder or those unable to undergo brain testing (for example due to medical implants, pregnancy, or other contraindications) may not directly benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal brain-specific hormone changes that point to new treatment targets for persistent alcohol problems.
How similar studies have performed: Rodent studies have shown prolonged increases in brain glucocorticoids after chronic alcohol, but human research has only measured blood cortisol with mixed results, making this human brain-focused approach relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verplaetse, Terril L — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Verplaetse, Terril 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.