How teen binge drinking changes developing brain cells in the hippocampus
Official title: Adolescent intermittent ethanol induction of neuroimmune signaling disrupts the mature phenotype of surviving hippocampal neuroprogenitors
Funded at University of North Carolina Wilmington · NIH-11370236 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how repeated binge drinking during adolescence can change the way developing brain cells in the hippocampus grow and connect, which may affect learning and memory later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Wilmington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Wilmington, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2025 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00AA030089-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370236 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project does not enroll people; its findings are most relevant to individuals who experienced heavy or repeated alcohol use during adolescence.
✕Less likely to help
People whose cognitive problems are due to causes unrelated to adolescent alcohol exposure (for example, genetic disorders or traumatic brain injury) are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific preclinical work.
What this research studies
This research uses a mouse model where newborn hippocampal brain cells are genetically labeled so scientists can follow their fate over time. Mice will be exposed to repeated, intermittent alcohol during their adolescent period to mimic binge drinking, and surviving progenitor cells will be tracked into adulthood. The team will measure signs of brain inflammation, how well new cells integrate into hippocampal circuits, and related learning and memory behaviors. Results will help clarify whether adolescent alcohol permanently alters the wiring and function of brain cells that are important for memory.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal why adolescent binge drinking causes lasting memory problems and point to biological targets for treatments to restore healthy brain cell integration.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have linked adolescent binge drinking to long-lasting inflammation and reduced hippocampal neurogenesis, but using fate-mapping to track surviving progenitor cell integration into circuits is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Wilmington
Wilmington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macht, Victoria Alice — University of North Carolina Wilmington
- Study coordinator: Macht, Victoria Alice
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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.