How heavy drinking harms the brain's white matter early versus late
Pathogenesis of Early- Versus Late-Stage Alcohol-Mediated White Matter Degeneration
This project looks at how heavy or binge drinking damages the brain's white matter and which changes might be reversed by stopping alcohol.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhode Island Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11061799 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team compares early changes after alcohol exposure, mainly loss of myelin from inflammation and lipid breakdown, with later changes involving impaired insulin-related signaling and loss of the cells that make myelin (oligodendrocytes). They study these processes using laboratory models and analyses of brain tissue and molecular markers, focusing on lipids and signaling pathways such as PI3K-Akt-mTOR. The researchers expect that stopping alcohol use may allow recovery in early stages, while later-stage damage may require treatments that restore oligodendrocytes and correct lipid and signaling defects. Results could help pinpoint when abstinence is enough and when additional therapies might be needed to protect or rebuild white matter.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of heavy or binge drinking or diagnosed alcohol use disorder, including those who recently stopped drinking, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People whose white matter damage is caused mainly by other conditions (for example multiple sclerosis or traumatic brain injury) or who have long-standing, advanced irreversible injury may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify when white matter damage from alcohol is reversible and suggest targets for therapies to prevent or repair brain injury.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show some white matter recovery after abstinence, but this project applies more detailed molecular analyses to separate early reversible myelin loss from later insulin-signaling–related degeneration.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Rhode Island Hospital — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De la Monte, Suzanne M. — Rhode Island Hospital
- Study coordinator: De la Monte, Suzanne M.
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.