NIAAA Spectrum Newsletter: V11(3): Fall 2019

2019·1.6 MB·English

spectrum
NIAAA
Volume 11, Issue 3 | Fall 2019 | https://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES • National Institutes of Health • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
IN THIS ISSUE
FEATURE
ALCOHOL AND “DEATHS OF DESPAIR”
FEATURE
1Alcohol and
“Deaths of Despair”
NEWS FROM THE FIELD
2Stepped Alcohol
Treatment Improves
HIV and Alcohol
Outcomes
SPOTLIGHT
2The Complex
Relationship Between
Alcohol and Pain
NOTEWORTHY
In 2015, Princeton University A subsequent study led by researchers 3New and Updated
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death began to increase in the United Whites, non-Hispanic American Indians
States for people in some groups. The and Alaskan Natives, non-Hispanic NIAAA@WORK
rise in deaths was driven primarily by Blacks, Hispanics, and non-Hispanic 4Training Tomorrow’s
drug and alcohol overdoses, suicides, Asians and Pacific Islanders. Although Alcohol Researchers
and liver disease. These conditions, in drug overdoses, alcohol-associated
turn, were related to declining quality liver disease (AALD), and suicides
of life—reduced physical and mental played major roles in these increases,
health, increases in chronic pain, deaths also increased for falls and
5 QUESTIONS WITH . . .
financial difficulties, and serious mental other injuries, heart disease, respiratory
7Mark Egli, Ph.D.,
illness. Given the nature of these deaths, conditions, cancers, and other causes.
Deputy Director of
Drs. Case and Deaton referred to them And it appears that the United States is
the Division of
as “deaths of despair.” They reported not alone, as deaths of despair are on
Neuroscience and
that the increase in mortality occurred the rise among middle-aged men and
Behavior
primarily among 45–54-year-old non- women in England, too.
Hispanic, White men and women.
Continued on page 3
Volume 11, Issue 3 | Fall 2019
NEWS FROM THE FIELD
STEPPED ALCOHOL TREATMENT IMPROVES HIV AND
ALCOHOL OUTCOMES
measures in this patient population.
A report of the study appears in The
Lancet HIV.
“These research findings demonstrate
the potential of integrated treatment
for AUD and HIV to improve health
outcomes and provide support for
integrating AUD treatment in HIV and
other healthcare settings,” says NIAAA
Director George F. Koob, Ph.D.
Alcohol misuse can increase risky
behaviors that increase the likelihood
of acquiring HIV, speed the progression
of the disease, and make it harder to
follow medication regimens. Previous
studies have linked drinking, even at low
levels, to greater risk of death for people
with HIV.
In the present study, E. Jennifer
Edelman, M.D., M.H.S., and her
Increasing the intensity of treatment clinical research supported by NIAAA. colleagues at Yale studied 5 U.S.
for alcohol use disorder (AUD) over In the study, led by researchers at Yale Department of Veterans Affairs–based
the time course of treatment reduces University, this stepped approach to HIV clinics with 128 people who were
alcohol consumption among people AUD treatment also reduced viral load HIV-positive and had AUD. They
living with human immunodeficiency (amount of HIV present in the blood)
virus (HIV) and AUD, according to new and improved other HIV-related disease Continued on page 6
SPOTLIGHT
THE COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ALCOHOL AND PAIN
The relationship between alcohol the effects of alcohol on pain, the role
and pain is a complicated one. It is a of pain in alcohol misuse, and potential
common belief that alcohol dulls pain, interactions between alcohol and
yet research shows that sometimes opioids during pain treatment hopefully
alcohol can make pain worse. will improve treatment outcomes for
patients in pain.
Understanding the complex relationship
between alcohol and pain is an Alcohol has been found to alleviate
important area of research for NIAAA. physical pain, but it requires doses
In 2016, about 20 percent of adults consistent with binge drinking to
(50 million people) in the United States do so. Binge drinking is defined
had chronic pain, defined as pain most as drinking enough to bring blood
days in the previous 6 months. Recent alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to
studies suggest that around 1 in 4 adults 0.08 percent, which typically occurs
in chronic pain reports self-medicating after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks
with alcohol, and 43–73 percent of for men in about 2 hours. A recent
people with alcohol use disorder analysis of the findings from 18 studies
(AUD) report experiencing chronic on alcohol and pain concluded that
pain. An improved understanding of Continued on page 6
2 https://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov
spectrum
NIAAA
FEATURE: Alcohol and “Deaths of Despair” . . . Continued from page 1
Alcohol plays a prominent role in deaths in 1999 to 70,237 in 2017. The largest to having about 4 drinks for women
of despair, contributing to overdoses, increase involved opioids, which or 5 for men in an hour—breathing
suicides, and liver disease, as well as claimed nearly 400,000 lives during decreased by another 19 percent.
to a broad range of other disease states that period. Alcohol plays a role in The impact was bigger in older
that lead to mortality. Alcohol use is about 1 in 5 overdose deaths involving drinkers. Alcohol contributes to other
increasing among middle-aged adults in opioids. Alcohol and opioid misuse drug overdoses as well. Deaths due
the United States and is more common share common underlying risk factors to overdoses on benzodiazepines,
when people are faced with stressful related to deaths of despair, including medications often used to treat anxiety,
circumstances, such as job loss, divorce, mood disorders, suicidal ideation, a have increased in recent years, and
economic downturns, chronic pain, history of trauma, and chronic pain. alcohol contributes to roughly 1 in 5
or psychiatric conditions—all factors (For more information, see the Spotlight such deaths.
related to deaths of despair. story “The Complex Relationship
Drs. Case and Deaton reported that
Between Alcohol and Pain.”) A recent
“I consider alcohol the elephant in the deaths from liver disease are key
study revealed just how dangerous the
room when it comes to the mortality contributors to the increase in deaths
combination of opioids and alcohol can
trends revealed in these recent studies,” of despair. The liver—the largest organ
be. Both alcohol and opioids can cause
says NIAAA Director George F. Koob, in the body—helps digest food, store
death by suppressing areas near the
Ph.D. “People are more likely to drink energy, and detoxify alcohol and other
base of the brain that control breathing.
excessively to help cope with significant harmful substances. The number of
When researchers gave healthy younger
challenges of life, but this is a slippery deaths in the United States each year
and older adults 20 mg of oxycodone,
slope that commonly leads to more pain from diseases of the liver is rising and
breathing was reduced by 28 percent.
and misery.” reached 41,743 in 2017. Roughly half
When they combined this dose of
of these deaths were caused by AALD,
A significant contributor to deaths of
oxycodone with enough alcohol to raise
particularly cirrhosis. Deaths due to
despair, drug overdose deaths in the
subjects’ blood alcohol concentration
United States increased from 16,849
(BAC) to 0.1 percent—comparable Continued on page 5
NOTEWORTHY
NEW AND UPDATED
NIAAA PUBLICATIONS
Interrupted Memories: Alcohol-Induced Blackouts
Drinking to the point of a blackout has gained pop culture notoriety in recent years. Blackouts
are typically associated with consuming excessive amounts of alcohol that can lead to impaired
manedm ootrhye or fh eavrmenst. sT thheayt ctraann ospcicruerd i nw hanileyo innteo wxihcaot eddri,n akns da lac odhroasl,t incoa lmly ainttcerre athseedir raigske oofr ilnejvuerile osf NIAAA recently released new publications on topics of
experience with drinking. In this factsheet, we will take a sober look at this common but deeply
concerning consequence of alcohol misuse.
What Are Blackouts? increased interest from the media and general public,
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Hangovers hmipepmoocraiemsp. uWsi tfhroomut fao rfmunincgti onneinwg professional meetings.
Fmoorr mninagny a pfteeor palned, at hneig dhrte oadf eddri nekfifnegct cs aonf lae ahda ntgoo av epra.inful hbwirhpaepinno’ sct ahrmee cpaoulcrsdo,-h kaoe lge wappein aogrc ssc yousfrfts,e tmihne ta hpneed r,s on
WWhhaatt dcaouesse ssc itehnec tey pteiclla ul ss yambpotuotm thsi so fp ah ehnaonmgoevneorn?? cannot recall what transpired. These additions to NIAAA’s factsheet collection
And the question perhaps as old as hangovers themselves—Types of Blackouts
aWreh tahte rIes aan yH raenagl roemveerd?ies? Tthheeyr ea raer ed etwfinoe tdy pbeys t hoef bsleavcekoriutyt so; f Hippocampus are Hangovers and Interrupted Memories: Alcohol-
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What Are the Long-Term Health Risks?
Alcohol Use Disorder
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing brain disorder characterized by an impaired ability
to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences. AUD can
range from mild to severe,* and recovery is possible regardless of severity.
Liver Damage
Walcoomheonlic w hheop raetigtiusl,a arl yp omteisnutsiaell ya lfcaotahlo al lacroeh molo-rreel alitkeedl yli vthear nc omnednit iwonh.o5 Tdhriinsk p tahtete srna mofe d arminkoiunngt ctoa nd eavlseolo p
lead to cirrhosis (permanent liver scarring).
Heart Disease
Long-term alcohol misuse is a leading cause of heart disease. Women are more susceptible to
aliflecotimhoel -trhealant emde hne.3art disease than men, even though they may consume less alcohol over their
*(S Teoe b het tdpisa:g//npousbesd.n wiaiatha A.nUihD.g, oav p/peurbsolicna mtiounsst /mdsemetf accetrsthaeine td/DiaSgnMofsatcict. pcdrift.e)ria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition.
3
Volume 11, Issue 3 | Fall 2019
NIAAA@WORK
TRAINING TOMORROW’S ALCOHOL RESEARCHERS
Pictured, left to right: Caroline Djakuduel, Laboratory of Neurogenetics; Mei Mei Zuo, Laboratory of Physiologic Studies; and
Riley Paulsen, Laboratory for Integrative Neuroscience
Each summer, NIAAA’s Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological
Research (DICBR) hosts high school, college, and graduate students
from across the nation. These student-trainees work in the DICBR
laboratories, gain research skills, and receive mentoring from
NIAAA researchers.
This year, some of the student projects investigated alcohol-induced
lung injury, alcohol’s role in inflammation, the neurobiology of stress and
addiction, health disparities in substance use disorders, the impact of
cannabis on sleep, and brain signaling during reward-seeking behaviors.
Student-trainees presented their research at the National Institutes of
Health Poster Day in August.
4 https://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov
spectrum
NIAAA
FEATURE: Alcohol and “Deaths of Despair” . . . Continued from page 3
AALD are more common in adults over mortality in other ways that might using alcohol to cope with challenges
the age of 45 than in younger drinkers, add to deaths of despair. Alcohol in life could help reduce the number of
but the biggest increases in such deaths plays a role in roughly 3.5 percent such deaths.
in recent years occurred among young of all cancer deaths in the United
According to Dr. Koob, “Perhaps our
adults ages 25–34. States. For women, the risk of breast
most fundamental responsibility is to
cancer increases with less than 1 drink
Rates of suicide in the United States ensure that all people possess basic
per day. Compared to women who
are increasing and are higher now than knowledge of alcohol’s immediate and
consumed fewer than 60 drinks in
at any time since World War II. More long-term health effects, and that all
a typical year, those consuming
than 47,000 people died from suicide in healthcare professionals, from trainees
60–229 drinks (about 0.6 drinks per
2017, and suicide is the fourth-leading through senior clinicians, make alcohol
day, on average) were 20 percent
cause of death for people ages 35–54. assessment an integral part of every
more likely to develop breast cancer.
interaction with patients.” Currently,
Alcohol misuse both follows and
Research also has shown that people
85 percent of adults ages 18 and older
contributes to mental health conditions
who drink excessively have a
in the United States see a doctor or
that increase the risk of suicide. People
greater risk of cancers of the mouth,
other healthcare professional each
with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are
esophagus, larynx, pharynx, liver,
year, but fewer than 1 in 4 report being
twice as likely as those without AUD
colon, and rectum.
asked during a visit in the past year
to experience major depression, five
Alcohol also is a common factor in how often or how much they drink.
times as likely to suffer from bipolar
deaths from injuries. The U.S. Centers
disorder, and three times as likely To learn more about the health risks
for Disease Control and Prevention
to experience post-traumatic stress posed by alcohol and to evaluate
(2013) estimates that alcohol
disorder. People with AUD are much whether your relationship with alcohol
contributes to 32 percent of deaths
more likely to contemplate suicide, and might constitute AUD, please visit the
from falls, 42 percent of deaths from
alcohol often plays a role in suicide NIAAA website, Rethinking Drinking,
fires, 47 percent of deaths from
attempts. Estimates suggest that nearly at https://www.rethinkingdrinking.
homicides, and 34 percent of deaths
1 in 4 males and 1 in 5 females are niaaa.nih.gov. To explore treatment
from drownings.
intoxicated—with BAC levels of options and to locate a treatment
0.08 percent or more—at the time of Alcohol is not the only factor driving provider, please visit the NIAAA
a suicide. the increase in deaths of despair, but Alcohol Treatment Navigator, at
raising awareness of the health risks https://alcoholtreatment.niaaa.nih.gov.
In addition to overdoses, liver disease,
posed by alcohol and the dangers of
and suicides, alcohol contributes to
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol and Public Health: Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI). Average for
United States 2006–2010 Alcohol-Attributable Deaths Due to Excessive Alcohol Use. https://go.usa.gov/xym4p. Accessed July 15, 2019.
Case, A.; and Deaton, A. Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among White non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Science of the United States of America 112(49):15078–15083, 2015. PMID: 26575631
Woolf, S.H.; Chapman, D.A.; Buchanich, J.M.; Bobby, K.J.; Zimmerman, E.B.; and Blackburn, S.M. Changes in midlife death rates across
racial and ethnic groups in the United States: Systematic analysis of vital statistics. BMJ 362:k3096, 2018. PMID: 30111554
O’Keefe, E.L.; DiNicolantonio, J.J.; O’Keefe, J.H.; and Lavie, C.J. Alcohol and CV health: Jekyll and Hyde J-curves. Progress in
Cardiovascular Diseases 61(1):68–75, 2018. PMID: 29458056
Barr, T.; Helms, C.; Grant, K.; and Messaoudi, I. Opposing effects of alcohol on the immune system. Progress in Neuro-
Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry 65:242–251, 2016. PMID: 26375241
Nelson, D.E.; Jarman, D.W.; Rehm, J.; Greenfield, T.K.; Rey, G.; Kerr, W.C.; Miller, P.; Shield, K.D.; Ye, Y.; and Naimi, T.S. Alcohol-
attributable cancer deaths and years of potential life lost in the United States. American Journal of Public Health 103(4):641–648, 2013.
PMID: 23409916
Shield, K.D.; Soerjomataram, I.; and Rehm, J. Alcohol use and breast cancer: A critical review. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental
Research 40(6):1166–1181, 2016. PMID: 27130687
Fedirko, V.; Tramacere, I.; Bagnardi, V.; Rota, M.; Scotti, L.; Islami, F.; Negri, E.; Straif, K.; Romieu, I.; La Vecchia, C.; Boffetta, P.; and
Jenab, M. Alcohol drinking and colorectal cancer risk: An overall and dose-response meta-analysis of published studies. Annals of
Oncology 22(9):1958–1972, 2011. PMID: 21307158
Tapper, E.B.; and Parikh, N.D. Mortality due to cirrhosis and liver cancer in the United States, 1999–2016: Observational study. BMJ
362:k2817, 2018. PMID: 30021785
5
Volume 11, Issue 3 | Fall 2019
NEWS FROM THE FIELD: Stepped Alcohol Treatment . . . Continued from page 2
investigated integrated stepped alcohol consumed per drinking day and a greater says Dr. Edelman. “We believe that
treatment (ISAT)—an approach that percentage of days abstinent. with decreased alcohol consumption,
involves consecutive steps of increasing participants in the ISAT group
“Importantly, we also observed that
the intensity of AUD treatment if lower- were more likely to take their HIV
participants randomized to stepped
intensity treatment does not produce medications consistently, translating
AUD treatment were more likely to
desired results. into improved HIV viral control.”
achieve an undetectable HIV viral load,”
Although no differences in drinks per
week consumed or HIV outcomes
Reference:
were found between the ISAT group
Edelman, E.J.; Maisto, S.A.; Hansen, N.B.; Cutter, C.J.; Dziura, J.; Deng, Y.; Fiellin,
and control group at 6 months, at
L.E.; O’Connor, P.G.; Bedimo, R.; Gibert, C.L.; Marconi, V.C.; Rimland, D.; Rodriguez-
the 12-month followup, individuals Barradas, M.C.; Simberkoff, M.S.; Tate, J.P.; Justice, A.C.; Bryant, K.J.; and Fiellin, D.A.
receiving ISAT were found to have Integrated stepped alcohol treatment for patients with HIV and alcohol use disorder: A
randomised controlled trial. The Lancet HIV 6(8):e509–e517, 2019. PMID: 31109915
fared better—reporting fewer drinks
SPOTLIGHT: The Complex Relationship . . . Continued from page 2
a BAC of 0.08 percent produces that control breathing. Using alcohol
a small increase in pain threshold and opioids together amplifies the References:
and a reduction in pain intensity. danger. Research suggests that alcohol Koob, G.F. Neurobiology of opioid
addiction: Opponent process,
These findings could help explain plays a role in around 1 in 5 deaths from
hyperkatifeia, and negative
why some people with chronic pain opioid overdoses. reinforcement. Biological Psychiatry
drink excessively. Unfortunately, Because the mechanisms by which June 12, 2019. PMID: 31400808
reaching BAC levels this high also is alcohol and opioids reduce physical and Rogers, A.H.; Kauffman, B.Y.;
associated with unintentional injuries, Bakhshaie, J.; McHugh, R.K.; Ditre,
emotional pain overlap, regular use of
violence, traffic fatalities, and other J.W.; and Zvolensky, M.J. Anxiety
one drug diminishes the effects of the
sensitivity and opioid misuse among
consequences. And long-term excessive
other. For instance, when researchers opioid-using adults with chronic pain.
drinking makes physical pain worse. examined opioid pain medication use The American Journal of Drug and
In a group of 30 men in treatment for Alcohol Abuse 45(5):470–478, 2019.
after abdominal surgery in more than
PMID: 30896985
AUD, sensitivity to pain increased early
4,000 patients, they found that frequent
in abstinence. Thompson, T.; Oram, C.; Correll,
alcohol consumption was associated
C.U.; Tsermentseli, S.; and Stubbs,
People also sometimes use alcohol with increased opioid use for pain B. Analgesic effects of alcohol: A
in an effort to cope with emotional control. Similarly, in rats allowed to systematic review and meta-analysis
of controlled experimental studies
pain. Unfortunately, as with physical drink alcohol for 8 weeks, opioids
in healthy participants. The Journal
pain, the temporary reprieve alcohol became less effective at reducing of Pain 18(5):499–510, 2017. PMID:
might offer gives way to an increase physical pain. Withdrawal from opioids, 27919773
in emotional pain when the alcohol like withdrawal from alcohol, leads to Witkiewitz, K.; and Vowles, K.E.
wears off. Chronic alcohol misuse can the emotional misery of hyperkatifeia. Alcohol and opioid use, co-use, and
lead to the emergence of a negative chronic pain in the context of the
As part of the National Institutes of opioid epidemic: A critical review.
emotional state, known as hyperkatifeia, Health Helping to End Addiction Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental
in between episodes of drinking. The Long-Term (HEAL) initiative, NIAAA Research 42(3):478–488, 2018. PMID:
resulting irritability, dysphoria, and 29314075
is encouraging studies to develop
anxiety fuel further alcohol use. As with Zale, E.L.; Maisto, S.A.; and Ditre,
and validate biomarkers of comorbid
physical pain, drinking alcohol to cope J.W. Interrelations between pain and
alcohol misuse and chronic pain and that alcohol: An integrative review. Clinical
with emotional pain makes the situation
address alcohol misuse in the context Psychology Review 37:57–71, 2015.
worse. (For more information, see the of chronic pain management. NIAAA PMID: 25766100
Feature story “Alcohol and ‘Deaths of
also encourages research on the impact Edwards, S.; Vendruscolo, L.F.;
Despair.’”) of alcohol and sleep disturbances on Schlosburg, J.E.; Misra, K.K.; Wee, S.;
Park, P.E.; Schulteis, G.; and Koob,
Opioid analgesics commonly are pain through a new funding opportunity
G.F. Development of mechanical
prescribed to treat physical pain (PA-19-200). These efforts, among hypersensitivity in rats during heroin
and often are misused to cope with others, should shed light on how alcohol and ethanol dependence: Alleviation
by CRF receptor antagonism.
emotional pain. Used separately, alcohol affects pain and vice versa and could 1
Neuropharmacology 62(2):1142–1151,
and opioids can cause overdose deaths have implications for both treating AUD
2012. PMID: 22119954
by suppressing areas in the brain stem and managing chronic pain.
6 https://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov
spectrum
NIAAA
5 QUESTIONS WITH . . .
MARK EGLI, PH.D.
Deputy Director of the Division of Neuroscience and Behavior
(microRNA, long noncoding RNA, overlap with those involved in alcohol
etc.) to reprogram protein-coding genes and opioid use disorders. In rodent
to influence their expression in specific models and in humans, alcohol causes
brain regions of both early-stage and pain. It implies that chronic alcohol use
late-onset AUD patients. Some of the increases pain, and that pain provokes
genes are related to stress and occur in drinking because of the effects on
brain regions, such as the amygdala, that shared neural circuitry.
are implicated in AUD. This research
More recently, it’s become clear that
finding confirms data from animal
alcohol is a major factor in the increased
models and suggests an important
“deaths of despair” in the United States,
mechanism underlying the development
including not only being responsible for
of AUD. There’s a possibility that
alcohol-associated liver disease, but also
alcohol-induced epigenetic changes are
contributing to opioid overdoses and
transmitted to offspring, putting future
suicides. For some, AUD along with
generations at risk for AUD.
chronic pain and opioid use disorder
We are also exploring ways to promote may be facets of a mechanistically
research involving social isolation, integrated syndrome with accidental
which puts people at risk for many overdose and suicide as outcomes. We
negative health conditions, including have identified several “sinkholes,”
AUD. It’s important to understand the whereby alcohol consumption and
1 As the Deputy Director of neurobiological impact of loneliness phenomena such as pain, opioid use,
the Division of Neuroscience and loss of social attachment as they impulsivity, and negative affect enter
and Behavior (DNB), how relate to risk for AUD and to recovery. into positive-feedback relationships,
would you characterize DNB’s Harmful effects of drinking on social meaning changes in one of these
research program? attachment and social effectiveness also domains (e.g., elevated alcohol misuse)
DNB’s portfolio comprises a broad need to be better understood, as this may can amplify one or more of the others
range of neuroscience research from contribute to depression and suicide. (e.g., increased opioid misuse). This
genes to behavior. This research covers can lead to deadly consequences. We
Binge drinking is increasing in aging
alcohol exposure across the lifespan, hope to stimulate research to provide
populations. We’ve collaborated
including developmental transitions a better mechanistic understanding of
with the National Institute on Aging
from adolescence to adulthood and those relationships.
to fund administrative supplements
into aging. In addition, alcohol use
on research examining the effects of
disorder [AUD] is a complex disorder, 4 Looking ahead, where do
alcohol on Alzheimer’s disease and
and our research program over time you see the DNB program
related dementias.
has expanded to include studies on heading?
emotional states, sleep disturbances, 3 Pain research is an area in Big and bold. My sense is that there are
social competence, cognitive function, which you’ve expanded major paradigm shifts ahead. Increased
and pain. support—how did that evolve? computational capabilities will allow us
to analyze large datasets from diverse
DNB has a strong pain research
2 What are some emerging sources such as the National Institutes
program thanks to Dr. Soundar
research areas DNB has been of Health [NIH]-funded Adolescent
Regunathan’s efforts as NIAAA’s
exploring? Brain Cognitive Development [ABCD]
Program Director. In 2010, we
Susceptibility and resilience to AUD study and the NIH All of Us initiative.
developed several symposia and new
have been explained by genes—DNA The National Institute of Mental Health
funding opportunity announcements.
variants—and environment; however, is leading efforts in the emerging field
Around the same time, NIAAA Director
we’re discovering that there is a third of computational psychiatry, with the
Dr. George F. Koob, Dr. Scott Edwards,
mechanism, epigenetics, that bridges aim of integrating observations across
and I wrote a review on this topic. A
these two areas. Investigators recently biological and behavioral systems over
growing body of research has shown
showed that alcohol exposure may time through large-scale modeling.
that brain systems supporting pain
cause non-protein-coding RNAs
perception, particularly emotional pain,
Continued on page 8
7
Volume 11, Issue 3 | Fall 2019
5 QUESTIONS WITH: Mark Egli, Ph.D. . . . Continued from page 7
The goal is to identify conditions that the experimental and computational
5 Outside of work, people say
lead to disease and to suggest effective tools generated in the past 5 years by
you’re a great harmonica
therapies. Much of this work will be the BRAIN initiative are becoming
player! How did that get
applicable to AUD. available to our alcohol researchers.
started?
In addition, the NIH Brain Research NIAAA also encourages studies through I also play clarinet, and my ability to
Through Advancing Innovative the Small Business Innovation Research apply woodwind techniques to the
Neurotechnologies [BRAIN] initiative [SBIR] program that apply data harmonica makes people think I’m a
is a major investment in technologies science methods to expand analytical more accomplished harmonica player
to advance spatial and temporal capabilities in alcohol research. I think than I really am. My cat likes the sound
resolution of brain function measures. the new technologies and paradigms of blues music for some reason and will
There will also be methods to measure will provide opportunities for sit on my lap and meow along when I
behavior from previously inaccessible researchers to perform studies that better play. I played in a blues band in high
sources and with greater temporal explain the great diversity of AUD school, but these days it’s just me and
resolution. Also very exciting is that among affected individuals. Sophie the cat.
ABOUT US CONTACT US
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8 https://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov