Brain Connectivity & Dual Diagnosis 🧠 New research from MUSC ARC clinical colleagues! @jimprisciandaro.bsky.social A deep dive into the brain’s wiring in individuals with Bipolar Disorder (BD) and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) #neuroscience #bipolar #alcoholusedisorder #research #brain

30) Dopamine “Borrowing”: Alcohol triggers a dopamine release, but it doesn’t create new dopamine. It borrows from the next day -this is why you might feel “the blues” or extra anxious the day after. Your brain is literally waiting for its dopamine stores to refill 🧬 #alcoholawarenessmonth

That’s a wrap 🎬 And that’s the end of #alcoholawarenessmonth Thank you for following along as we dive into the neurobiology, metabolism, and social science behind alcohol. Knowledge is the best tool we have making healthy choices. Comment below 👇 which fact from this month surprised you the most 🧬

29) chronic drinking can actually lead to a physical shrinking of the brains volume (especially in the front cortex) The cool part? If you stop drinking, the brain show remarkable neuroplasticity and can actually start to regain some of that volume back within weeks to months #alcoholawarenessmonth

28) The 10% Rule 😮‍💨 only about 99% of alcohol is metabolized by your liver. The other 10% is eliminated though your breath, sweat, and urine. This is why you can actually smell alcohol on someone - it’s literally escaping though their skin and lungs! 🫁 #alcoholawarenessmonth #research

27) The Rodent Paradox: rodents almost always choose social interaction over drugs like cocaine or heroin 🐁 but alcohol is the only substance where they will sometimes choose the drug over a social partner. It’s a unique “social hijacker” #addictionresearch #alcoholawarenessmonth

26) alcohol triggers AgRP neurons in the brain - the same ones that signal intense starvation. 🍕 this is why you feel ravenous for food after a few drinks, even if you just ate. #alcoholawarenessmonth

25) Muscle protein synthesis: alcohol interferes with the signaling pathways that tell your body to build muscle after a workout. 💪Drinking post-gym can actually “cancel out” some of your hard earned progress #alcoholawarenessmonth

24) your body turns alcohol into acetaldehyde - a chemical 30x more toxic than alcohol itself! 🍷 it’s the main culprit behind DNA damage and that “hit by a truck” feeling the next morning #neuroscience #alcoholawarenessmonth

23) The GABA-Glutamate seesaw: alcohol mimics GABA and blacks Glutamate 🧠 when you stop drinking, your brain overcompensates woth a surge of glutamate, leading to that jittery , anxious feeling during withdrawal #neuroscience #alcoholawarenessmonth #research

22) The "Flash" Reaction: About 8% of the global population has a genetic variant (ALDH2) that makes their body physically unable to fully break down acetaldehyde. For them, one drink isn't a "buzz"—it’s an immediate toxic buildup causing facial flushing and a racing heart. 🧬🚨 #AlcoholAwarenessMonth

21) Cancer Awareness: Many people don't realize alcohol is classified as a Group 1 carcinogen. Reducing intake is one of the most proactive things you can do for long-term health. 🎗️ #alcoholawarenessmonth #alcoholresearch #cancerresearch

20) Bone Deep: Long-term heavy drinking can actually interfere with calcium balance and bone density. Stay sturdy out there! 🦴💪 #alcoholawarenessmonth #boneresearch #alcoholresearch

19) The Gastritis Gala: Alcohol is an irritant to the stomach lining. If your coffee is hitting a little too hard lately, your gut might just need a vacation from the booze. ☕️🧊 #alcoholawarenessmonth #GIresearch #alcoholresearch

18) Science shows alcohol can actually change how your gene are expressed! 🧬 it adds methyl groups to your DNA, which can turn off tumor-suppressor genes , increasing cancer risk over time #epigenetics #alcoholawarenessmonth #alcoholresearch

17) Chronic Alcohol use slows down neurogenesis (the birth of new neurons, specifically in the hippocampus). 🧠Taking a break from alcohol allows the brain to begin repairing these vital circuits #alcoholawarenessmonth #brainrepair #alcoholresearch

16) Congener Chaos: Darker liquors (bourbon, red wine) contain more congener (byproducts of fermentation) than clear spirits 🍷. These extra chemicals usually lead to significantly more intense hangovers. #alcoholawarenessmonth

15) Alcohol is a “diuretic” but it also blocks the absorption of B-vitamins, espically Thiamine (B1). Long term deficiency can lead to serious neurological issues like Wernicks-Korasakoff syndrome #alcoholawarenessmonth

New research alert 🚨 How can we make clinical trials for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) more effective? A study just out in Alcohol,Clinical, and experimental research by Hoffman et al. (2026) analyzed data from 5 major trials to find what predicts better outcomes 🧵👇

14) The Proof is in the Gunpowder: the term “100 proof” comes from the 16th century 📚 Sailors would douse gunpowder in rum ; if it’s still ignited, the alcohol content was “proved” (that’s about 57% ABV!) #alcoholawarenessmonth #historyfacts

13) alcohol slows down the communication between your eyes and your brain 👀. This impairs peripheral vision and contrast sensitivity, making it harder to distinguish between objects and their backgrounds. #alcoholawarenessmonth #visionscience

12) The “Liver First” Rule: did you know your liver treats alcohol like a VIP guest? 🥂 it stops metabolizing fats and sugars to focus 100% on clearing ethanol. This metabolic “pause” is why chronic drinking leads to fatty liver disease #alcoholawarenessmonth #liverdisease #recovery

11) alcohol doesn’t just dehydrate your brain; it’s a thief for your skins glow ✨By triggering inflammation and depleting Vitamin A, it accelerates the breakdown of collagen. Give your skin a break. Your reflection will thank you 😆 #alcoholawarenessmonth #skincarescience

10) ever wonder why a “liquid diet” can lead to a beer belly?🍺 it’s not just calories- it’s the metabolic hijacking. when you drink, your liver stops burning fat to focus on clearing the alcohol. Basically your fat engine pulls over to let the alcohol pass #alcoholawarenessmonth #metabolism

9)Alcohol affects hydration. It acts as a diuretic, causing your body to lose more fluids than it takes in. This can lead to dehydration, headaches, dry skin, and fatigue. Dehydration can also impact focus, energy levels, and overall physical performance. #AlcoholAwarenessMonth #stayHydrated

8)Alcohol can impact your weight. Many drinks are high in calories with little nutritional value—and those calories add up. Alcohol can also slow your metabolism and increase appetite, making it easier to overeat. This can make it harder to maintain a healthy weight. #AlcoholAwarenessMonth

7) Alcohol can weaken your immune system. Even moderate drinking can make it harder for your body to fight off illness by reducing your body’s ability to produce infection-fighting cells. This can leave you more vulnerable to illness. Stay strong—inside and out. 💪 #AlcoholAwarenessMonth #Wellness

6)Adolescent health isn’t just about the present it’s about the future The Amico-Andrologo survey found that over 10,000 young men shows that heavy alcohol use during adolescence is significantly associated with lower testicular volume #Alcoholawarenessmonth onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...

5) Alcohol can impact mental health more than many people realize. While it may feel like it helps you relax in the moment, it can actually increase feelings of anxiety and depression over time. #AlcoholAwarenessMonth #MentalHealthMatters

4) Alcohol doesn’t just affect your body, impacts your sleep quality too😴Even small amounts can disrupt REM sleep, leaving you feeling less rested the next day. Over time, poor sleep can affect mood, memory, and overall health.🧠 #AlcoholAwarenessMonth #SleepHealth

3) Excessive alcohol use isn’t just a health issue—it’s an economic one. 💰 Costs the U.S. ~$249 BILLION annually 📉 72% from lost productivity 🏥 Healthcare, crashes, crime drive the rest That’s ~$807 per person—and rising. We all pay the price. #PublicHealth #AlcoholAwarenessmonth #healthadvocacy

2) How much is too much to drink? Heaving drinking is 4+ for women and 5+ for men in one day #AlcoholAwarenessMonth #recovery #soberlife #alcoholresearch

April is #AlcoholAwarenessMonth. We will be posting a fact each day this month to spread the word about alcohol harm and awareness 1) Did you know alcohol drinking is a leading cause of preventable death in the US and it’s harmful effects contribute to 200+ health conditions #recovery #research

Big changes coming to the NIH landscape!🧬 NIH is streamlining its grant process. By reducing the number of highly specialized announcements, NIH is shifting the focus back to broad, investigator-initiated science. This means more room for innovative ideas! grants.nih.gov/news-events/... #NIH

We’re still buzzing from a successful 2026 Alcohol and the Nervous System GRC🧪✨ We are proud to have two students from our institution give prestigious talks at the conference @kathylindquist.bsky.social and @skylarhodgins.bsky.social ! #alcoholresearch #Neuroscience #GRC

Hello, Bluesky We are the Charleston Alcohol Research Center (ARC) at MUSC Our mission is to understand the neurobiology behind alcohol use disorder through rigorous science We are here to bridge the gap between the lab bench and the public #Scicomm #Neuroscience #Alcoholresearch