How teen binge drinking may harm the brain’s blood-brain barrier and relate to Alzheimer’s changes
Official title: AIE, Blood-Brain Barrier Regulation, and Neurovascular Integrity in Amyloidopathy
Funded at State University of Ny,binghamton · NIH-11177698 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether repeated heavy drinking during the teen years changes the brain’s protective barrier and increases Alzheimer’s-related brain changes, with different effects in males and females.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of Ny,binghamton NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Binghamton, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2009 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $259,196 |
| NIH project number | 5P50AA017823-17 |
| Project ID | NIH-11177698 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with a history of heavy adolescent alcohol use or those concerned about alcohol-related risks for later cognitive decline would be the most relevant group.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose conditions are unrelated to alcohol exposure or amyloid-related neurovascular problems are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
From a patient viewpoint, the team is using models of Alzheimer’s along with patterns of adolescent binge drinking to see how early alcohol exposure affects the blood-brain barrier and nearby amyloid buildup. They expose adolescent animals to intermittent ethanol, allow a period of abstinence, and then examine brain regions for barrier leaks, amyloid deposits, and signs of neurovascular damage. The work compares males and females because previous findings showed sex-specific effects, and it draws on human post-mortem observations linking alcohol use disorder to barrier disruption. Findings aim to connect adolescent alcohol exposure to longer-term Alzheimer’s-related changes through vascular mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could point to ways to prevent or reduce Alzheimer’s-related brain damage linked to teen binge drinking and identify targets for future treatments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies and post-mortem human data have linked alcohol use to blood-brain barrier disruption and amyloid changes, but combining adolescent binge models with Alzheimer’s models and sex-specific analyses is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
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State University of Ny,binghamton
Binghamton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deak, Terrence — State University of Ny,binghamton
- Study coordinator: Deak, Terrence
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.