Nasal insulin to help people with alcohol use disorder
Intranasal Insulin Administration as Medication for Alcohol Use Disorder
This study gives a single dose of insulin through the nose to people with alcohol use disorder to see if it is safe and how it affects memory, impulse control, and responses when drinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11197617 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you would come to Brown University for two lab sessions and receive a single 80 IU dose of intranasal insulin in one session and a placebo in the other, with the order switched so neither you nor the staff know which you get. The study uses a within-subject, crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled design in 40 people who have alcohol use disorder but are not currently seeking treatment. Researchers will track safety, tolerability, and any adverse events when insulin is given alone and when combined with alcohol, and they will measure memory, impulsivity, stress hormones, and other biological markers. The goal is to refine the procedures and collect initial data on whether nasal insulin is acceptable and safe for people with AUD.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with alcohol use disorder who can attend in-person lab visits, are not currently seeking treatment, and do not have medical conditions (like insulin-dependent diabetes) that would make intranasal insulin unsafe are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who need immediate treatment for AUD, those with uncontrolled diabetes or other serious medical/psychiatric conditions, pregnant people, or those unable to attend in-person visits are unlikely to benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a brain-targeted medication that may improve memory and impulse control related to drinking while reducing systemic side effects compared with traditional treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human studies show intranasal insulin can safely reach the brain and has produced promising effects on cognition and some addiction-related behaviors, but applying it specifically to alcohol use disorder is still an early and novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Haass-Koffler, Carolina Luisa — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Haass-Koffler, Carolina Luisa
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.