Studiu: Alcoolul începe să afecteze celulele imunitare ale creierului în aproximativ o oră și poate distruge structurile care susțin neuronii

Recent research reveals that alcohol affects not only neurons but also immune cells in the brain called microglia, leading to detrimental changes in brain structure. The study, published in Immunity, shows that alcohol consumption alters microglial activity, causing them to degrade the extracellular matrix that supports brain cells. This degradation contributes to synaptic loss and neuronal dysfunction. In experiments with genetically modified mice lacking the MyD88 protein, researchers observed reduced neuronal damage and milder effects from alcohol. These findings suggest that targeting MyD88 could be a therapeutic strategy for alcohol-related brain injuries and potentially other neurological disorders.