PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
The proposed application responds to the need for a better understanding of the microbiome and
neuroinflammation in adolescent alcohol users. Early initiation of alcohol use, and binge drinking in particular, is
considered one of the most important risk factors in the later development of alcohol and substance use
disorders, but the neurobiological changes that may account for this increased vulnerability are not well
understood. Alcohol-induced microbiome alterations at an early age may lead to neurometabolite alterations and
in-turn affect the escalation of alcohol use. Consequently, the microbiome may be a novel area of research that
may aid in adolescent AUD prevention and intervention efforts by providing new targets for treatment, and/or
diagnostic and therapeutic response biomarkers. The present study therefore aims to investigate associations
between the microbiota and neuroinflammation in the context of adolescent binge drinking. Specifically, the study
will rely on analysis of oral microbiota 16S rRNA sequencing and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) data,
in order to determine if binge drinking adolescents have higher levels of pro-inflammatory microbes and MRS
markers of neuroinflammation. Together these data, regardless of if they are line with our hypotheses, will
provide a foundation for neuroscience and microbiome informed targets and strategies for prevention and
intervention efforts for problematic alcohol use. The research proposed in this F31 application will serve as
essential hands-on training to promote Brittney's career development in adolescent alcohol use disorder
neurobiology, neuroimaging, and the microbiome, and it will result in data on which to build an NIH F32
application.
