Light alcohol use and stroke care: could small amounts help brain blood vessels
Official title: Light Alcohol Consumption and Ischemic Stroke
Funded at Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport · NIH-11369534 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study explores whether very light alcohol consumption could help people at risk for ischemic stroke by promoting brain blood vessel growth and healing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Shreveport, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $365,296 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA023610-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369534 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for ischemic stroke or with a history of stroke who are able to participate in related assessments and potential sample collection.
✕Less likely to help
People with certain medical conditions or those who cannot participate in the proposed assessments may not benefit.
What this research studies
This research looks at how small amounts of alcohol might protect the brain after a stroke or prevent stroke by boosting blood vessel growth and brain cell renewal. The team will study the cellular pathways involved, especially L-PGDS, PPARg, VEGF-A, and VEGFR2, and how they respond to light alcohol exposure. The study aims to translate findings from lab work to humans with stroke risk factors, potentially guiding new prevention or treatment ideas. Participants would be adults, including those with stroke risk factors, who could contribute samples or undergo assessments as part of the study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new insights into preventing or better treating ischemic stroke by influencing brain blood vessel growth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that light alcohol is linked to lower stroke risk and may promote brain vessel growth in models, but human translation is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
Shreveport, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sun, Hong — Louisiana State Univ Hsc Shreveport
- Study coordinator: Sun, Hong
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Light Alcohol and Stroke Recovery
This research explores how light alcohol consumption might help the brain recover after an ischemic stroke.
-
Improving blood flow after stroke by breaking down NETs
Aims to see if breaking down neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) after an ischemic stroke can improve blood flow and reduce brain injury in patients.
-
EP2 blockers to protect the brain after a stroke
Aims to test brain-permeable EP2 antagonists to reduce damage after ischemic stroke and improve recovery.
-
Genetic testing to find causes of early-onset ischemic stroke
This project uses whole-exome sequencing to look for gene changes that may cause ischemic stroke in adults who had a stroke at a young age.
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Targeted nanomedicine to protect the brain after stroke
A targeted drug-delivery approach aims to boost blood-brain barrier repair and reduce brain damage after an acute ischemic stroke in patients at risk.
-
How biological aging and blood proteins relate to thinking after a stroke
This project looks at whether measures of biological aging and patterns of blood proteins help explain which stroke survivors keep their thinking sharp and which go on to develop vascular dementia.
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.