Alcohol consumption during adolescence may cause lasting changes in brain function that persist even after prolonged abstinence. A study by researchers at Marshall University School of Medicine suggests that astrocytes — brain cells once considered primarily supportive — may play a key role in these long-term effects. The findings were published in Molecular Psychiatry.
The researchers examined the effects of intermittent alcohol exposure during adolescence using a rat model. After a period of abstinence, they analyzed the animals' brains in adulthood, focusing on the hippocampus, a region involved in learning and memory formation.
The study found that adolescent alcohol exposure caused long-lasting disruptions in communication between astrocytes and synapses, the structures through which nerve cells transmit signals. These changes persisted even after an extended period without alcohol. At the same time, the adult animals displayed behavioral changes associated with an exaggerated fear response.
The researchers paid particular attention to astrocytes. These cells provide essential support to neurons, but growing evidence shows that they also actively participate in the transmission and regulation of signals in the brain.
Experiments showed that stimulating calcium signaling inside astrocytes could partially reverse the effects of adolescent alcohol exposure. The animals exhibited a reduced exaggerated fear response, while the release of molecules involved in communication between cells also increased.
According to the researchers, these findings suggest that astrocytes may represent an important link between alcohol exposure during adolescence and long-term changes in brain function and behavior.
The authors emphasize that the results have so far been obtained only in animals and do not represent an established treatment for humans. Nevertheless, the findings point to a potential target for future therapies that could help partially restore disrupted brain function following alcohol exposure during a critical period of brain development.
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