A recent study from the University of Cologne and Universities of Mannheim and Heidelberg concluded that even a single dose of alcohol consumption can permanently affect the condition and behavior of neurons. In particular, to the powerhouse of the cells, the mitochondria. Other areas affected were the structure of the synapses, or how the brain cells communicate with one another.
The findings have significant consequences in the brain’s reward learning ability and how it could potentially lead to alcohol addiction later in life.
The research team lead by Professor Dr. Henrike Scholz along with, Michele Tegmeier and Michael Berger used a genetic model system of the fruit fly to show the changes in the mitochondria of the synapses reduced the reward effects of consuming alcohol. These results were found to suggest that even a single dose of alcohol could provide the foundation for alcohol addiction.
This “single-dose“ hypothesis having lasting neuronal brain changes, was observed in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Most of the research up to date has been centered around how the chronic consumption of alcohol effects the hippocampus (control center of the brain). Little is known about critical risk factors on neuronal mechanisms, such as early on or first intoxication has on molecular, cellular and at the behavioral levels.
This research team was more concerned with how casual to chronic alcohol abuse affected the possibility of permanent changes in the brain. What brain regions were most affected and how they changed during the tracking process.
The mitochondria is necessary for cellular energy to take place. This is accomplished by mitochondrial movement. The study showed this movement was chemically altered in the ethanol treated cells. Which in effect changed the behavior of the mitochondria’s ability to perform at it’s peak.
The team worked from the “hypothesis similar to the formation of a memory after a single lesson.” Or if a single dose of ethanol could form a positive association with alcohol. Much like how learning takes place and memories are formed.
After treating both mice and fruit flies with ethanol, they witnessed direct changes in the balance of synapses in neurons and the dynamics of the mitochondria. Other changes of chemical origins were observed and remained permanent that were confirmed by the behavioral changes in the animal subjects.
Both the mice and fruit flies demonstrated an increased alcohol consumption as well as a relapse later on in their life.
The research indicated that the same remodeling of neurons shared in how the basic formation of information, memories and learning take place within the brain. That plasticity mechanisms at the cellular level occur, which correlate to intelligence, can be observed in changes that occur similarly in ethanol-related memory formation as well.
The speculation was that the development of addictive behaviors are formations built upon the same critical cellular interactions used when learning is formed. But are ethanol-dependent due to the chemical impairment of the synapses mechanisms.
It seems that the complex neuronal network responsible for reward behaviors and learning ones are affected across both animal and human species.
Dr. Henrike Scholz explained, “It is remarkable that the cellular processes contributing to such complex reward behavior are conserved across species, suggesting a similar role in humans. It could be a possible general cellular process essential for learning and memory.”
“Both of the observed mechanisms could explain observations made in mice that a single intoxication experience can increase alcohol consumption and alcohol relapse later in life. These mechanisms may even be relevant to the observations in humans that the first alcohol intoxication at an early age is a critical factor for later alcohol intoxication and the development of alcohol addiction. Dr. Scholz went on to say, “ This means that identifying lasting ethanol-dependent changes is an important first step in understanding how acute drinking can turn into chronic alcohol abuse.”
I find this study to be a fascinating incite in how quickly are brain can learn and make adaptions by utilizing a built-in reward process to encourage itself through reinforcement by exposure to any stimuli, including alcohol.
-A Balanced Brain is a Better Brain-