Effects of Alcohol on the Brain across the Lifespan: Recent Advances from Preclinical and Clinical Studies

This book delves into the intricate relationship between alcohol and the brain across different stages of life, offering groundbreaking insights from preclinical and clinical studies. From prenatal development to the complexities of aging, it unravels how alcohol interacts with neural networks, neurotransmitters, and cellular processes that govern behavior.Starting with the prenatal period, the book will explore the effects of alcohol on the developing brain, shedding light on the potential cognitive and behavioral consequences that may persist into adulthood. It unravels the intricate mechanisms through which alcohol impacts neurodevelopment, including alterations in brain structure, neuronal connectivity, and synaptic plasticity. Moving into adolescence and early adulthood, the book will examine how alcohol affects crucial brain regions involved in decision-making, impulse control, and memory formation. It will explore the neurological changes associated with excessive alcohol consumption during this sensitive period, offering insights into the long-term risks of alcohol abuse and addiction. Throughout middle adulthood and into later life, the book will delve into the nuanced interplay between alcohol and age-related disorders, including neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia.Researchers in neuroscience, psychology, and related fields will find this book invaluable for its comprehensive exploration of alcohol's effects on the brain. It is an essential read for scholars, practitioners, and anyone interested in understanding the profound implications of alcohol consumption across the lifespan.

About the Author

Dr. C. Fernando Valenzuela is a Regents’ Professor of Neurosciences at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and is the Director of the New Mexico Alcohol Research Center. He earned his M.D. with honors from the Colombian School of Medicine (Universidad El Bosque) and later obtained his Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at the University of California, Riverside, under the mentorship of Dr. David A. Johnson. Following this, he completed postdoctoral training in Dr. Adron Harris's laboratory within the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Dr. Valenzuela's research primarily explores the effects of alcohol on synaptic transmission and plasticity during brain development, with a particular focus on how alcohol influences the maturation of neuronal circuits.

Dr. David L. Linsenbardt is an Assistant Professor of Neurosciences at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Health Sciences Center. He earned his Ph.D. from Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis in Addiction Neuroscience under the mentorship of Dr. Stephen Boehm. He then completed postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Christopher Lapish in the same Department. Dr. Linsenbardt's research primarily explores the effects of alcohol on neurobehavioral function, with an emphasis on the motivating attributes of alcohol that lead to binge and high-intensity alcohol drinking, as well as the consequences of excessive alcohol drinking throughout the lifespan.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Weiner is a Professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He is also the Director of the NIAAA-supported Wake Forest Translational Alcohol Research Center and the inaugural institutional Faculty Ombuds. He pursued his academic training at the University of Toronto, completing a B.S. in Neuroscience, an M.S. in Pharmacology, and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology working with Dr. Peter L. Carlen. He then completed a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Thomas V. Dunwiddie in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. Dr. Weiner’s laboratory uses rodent models and an integration of behavioral and neurobiological approaches to elucidate the circuit mechanisms underlying vulnerability and resilience to alcohol use disorder.