Professor John F. Cryan and colleagues publish article in Lancet EBIOMedicine showing that youth binge drinking is linked to gut microbiome change

22 Feb 2023

Professor Cryan and colleagues in UCC have recently published an article titled 'The Microbiome-Gut-Brain axis regulates social cognition & craving in young binge drinkers' in Lancet EBIOMedicine in which the researchers have shown that youth binge drinking is linked to gut microbiome change.

This study demonstrates that the most common pattern of alcohol misuse during adolescence is linked with gut microbiome alterations, even before an addiction develops. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in regulating craving and social cognition. These findings could help develop novel (dietary or pre/probiotic) interventions directed at improving early alcohol-related alterations in young drinkers during the vulnerable period of adolescence.

UCC News and Views in their article Researchers discover that youth binge drinking is linked to gut microbiome changes discuss the findings of Professor Cryan's Lancet EBIOMedicine publication. 'The study of young people, conducted by researchers at APC Microbiome Ireland, a world-leading SFI Research Centre based at University College Cork (UCC), found that alterations in the gut microbiome, microorganisms that live in the human digestive system and affect health, are linked with the common practice of binge drinking in young people.'

In an Irish Times article journalist Kevin O'Sullivan discusses the findings; 'Youth binge drinkers show alterations in the gut microbiome which may be linked to poor ability to recognise emotions and cravings to consume alcohol, Irish scientists have found. Published in The Lancet eBioMedicine on Thursday the findings provide further evidence that the gut microbiome appears to regulate brain functioning and emotional functioning.'

LINKS:

Lancet EBIOMedicine: The Microbiome-Gut-Brain axis regulates social cognition & craving in young binge drinkers