Research Advances on the Microbiota-gut-brain Axis in Alcohol-related Brain Injury
10.11714/jsysu.med.YX20260008
- VernacularTitle:菌群-肠-脑轴在酒精性脑损伤中的研究进展
- Author:
Hongyan ZHOU
1
;
Ping XU
1
Author Information
1. Department of Neurology， Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University， Zunyi 563000， China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
chronic excessive alcohol consumption;
microbiota-gut-brain axis;
alcohol-related brain injury;
gut dysbiosis;
interventions
- From:
Journal of Sun Yat-sen University(Medical Sciences)
2026;47(3):419-428
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Chronic excessive alcohol consumption is a major global public health concern that severely endangers human health. Excessive alcohol intake disrupts the functions of multiple organs and systems in the human body through diverse mechanisms. The alcohol-sensitive microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a critical role in maintaining systemic homeostasis， immune maturation， and endocrine metabolism. Chronic excessive alcohol consumption not only alters the composition of the gut microbiota and the levels of its metabolites， but also compromises intestinal barrier integrity， increases intestinal permeability， and allows harmful metabolites to enter the systemic circulation， thereby triggering a variety of diseases including alcohol-related brain injury. Alcohol-related brain injury is one of the most severe consequences of unrecognized or inadequately treated alcohol use disorder （AUD）， which can lead to extensive neuronal damage and neurocognitive dysfunction. Although the potential role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in alcohol-related brain injury has been proposed， the exact underlying mechanisms have not yet been fully elucidated. Therefore， in this review， we systematically analyze the associations among chronic excessive alcohol consumption， the microbiota-gut-brain axis， and alcohol-related brain injury， and explore the potential mechanisms underlying alcohol-induced brain damage via this axis.
