# The effects of adolescent alcohol use on oral microbiota and the brain

> **NIH NIH K01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2024 · $194,400

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Research on the microbiome-brain axis indicates strong bidirectional communication systems between the
microbiome (including the oral microbiota) and the brain. In adults, the microbiome-brain axis is implicated in the
development and maintenance of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and has been examined as a potential AUD
treatment target; however, similar research is lacking during adolescence. In our recent review of the adolescent
oral and gut microbiota, we found that the adolescent microbiome may be vulnerable to alcohol use. It is
important to investigate if the microbiome-brain axis findings from the adult literature can be replicated in
adolescents who use alcohol, or if the developmental aspect of adolescence incurs differential effects. The genus
Lactobacillus is of particular interest in the adult AUD field and provides an ideal initial target for extending
microbiome-brain research into adolescence. Lactobacillus shows a lower relative abundance in relation to adult
alcohol use; has been proposed as a treatment option for adult AUD; and administration in a preclinical model
resulted in brain metabolite alterations (glutamate, GABA, and N-acetylaspartate or NAA) measured with proton
magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Combined, these findings indicate that alcohol related alterations to
Lactobacillus may led to brain metabolite level alterations through the microbiome-brain axis. Investigating the
microbiome-brain axis during adolescence will provide insights into a critical piece of the AUD trajectory, as well
as potential prevention (e.g., vulnerability markers) and intervention (e.g., pre/probiotics) targets. The
overarching hypothesis is that the adolescent microbiome-brain axis is impacted by alcohol use. This application
proposes an initial assessment of this hypothesis through novel research that will collect (1) salivary samples to
assess the oral microbiome, with Lactobacillus as the primary genus of interest, and (2) Glu, GABA, and NAA
brain metabolite levels within the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex via MRS. The oral microbiome was selected
for this age range due to increased feasibility and conserved scientific integrity (e.g., resembles the upper
gastrointestinal tract and sensitive to alcohol). We will recruit 126 adolescents (ages 14-18) with no/low alcohol
use (n=42), recent moderate alcohol use (n=42), or recent heavy alcohol use (n=42). The proposed research
plan in this NIAAA K01 application will serve as essential hands-on training to promote Dr. Kirkland’s career
development in adolescent alcohol use through five distinct career objectives: (1) become proficient in oral
microbiome data collection, analysis, and interpretation; (2) develop foundational knowledge of the adolescent
microbiome, specifically its development, the potential effects of alcohol, and its connection to the central nervous
system through the microbiome-brain axis; (3) gain experience in lab management skills to foster independen...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10949918
- **Project number:** 1K01AA031745-01
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Anna E Kirkland
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $194,400
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-08-20 → 2029-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10949918

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10949918, The effects of adolescent alcohol use on oral microbiota and the brain (1K01AA031745-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10949918. Licensed CC0.

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