How early life stress affects alcohol sensitivity differently in men and women
Official title: Extended amygdala corticotropin-releasing factor circuits mediating sex-specific impacts of early life stress on alcohol sensitivity
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11071714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how tough experiences in childhood, like abuse or neglect, can affect the chances of developing problems with alcohol later in life, especially for women, and it aims to understand the brain's role in this connection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | September 14, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $42,578 |
| NIH project number | 1F31AA031630-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11071714 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and are currently struggling with alcohol sensitivity or use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced early life stress or do not have issues related to alcohol consumption may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how adverse childhood experiences, such as abuse or neglect, influence the risk of developing alcohol use disorder in adulthood, particularly focusing on differences between genders. It aims to understand the neural mechanisms, specifically in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, that mediate these effects. By examining how stress impacts alcohol sensitivity, the study seeks to uncover the biological factors that contribute to increased alcohol consumption and binge drinking among women. The approach includes analyzing the role of corticotropin-releasing factor neurons in response to early life stress and their relationship with alcohol-related behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted interventions for preventing alcohol use disorder in individuals who have experienced early life stress.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between childhood adversity and alcohol use, but this specific focus on sex differences and neural mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
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Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Morningstar, Allison Rebecca — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Morningstar, Allison Rebecca
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.