How prenatal alcohol exposure changes brain myelin development
C6-Development and adaptive myelination
This project looks at how alcohol exposure before birth can alter the brain's myelin-making cells and affect learning in people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11086034 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a mouse model that mimics late-pregnancy (third-trimester equivalent) alcohol exposure to study the cells that make myelin (oligodendrocyte precursor cells and oligodendrocytes). They will examine how alcohol changes these cells' gene activity and their ability to form and remodel myelin during learning. The team links these cellular and molecular changes to problems in brain circuits for learning and memory that are seen in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Results aim to reveal biological steps that could be targeted to protect or restore myelination after prenatal alcohol exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with known prenatal alcohol exposure or a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and families interested in research on brain development would be the most relevant group for this work.
Not a fit: Individuals whose cognitive or neurological problems are unrelated to prenatal alcohol exposure are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or reverse myelination problems and improve learning and memory in people affected by prenatal alcohol exposure.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal studies have shown that prenatal alcohol can delay OPC differentiation and reduce myelination, but translating those findings into effective treatments for people has not yet been achieved.
Where this research is happening
Albuquerque, United States
- University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr — Albuquerque, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vue, Tou Yia — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Vue, Tou Yia
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.