Alcohol Withdrawal-Induced GABA Hyposensitivity in the Ventral Tegmental Area Relies on Dysregulation of Cholesterol Synthesis

Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading risk factor for disease burden, resulting in 5.3% of all deaths worldwide (1). Harmful alcohol drinking contributes to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is accompanied by profound negative societal and economic consequences with costs that exceed $250 billion annually in the United States (2). Once established, AUD is a complex psychiatric condition characterized by clinically significant distress resulting from harmful alcohol use and extending to a chronic relapsing profile even after prolonged abstinence. Relapse prevention remains one of the main challenges in the treatment of AUD. Although recent research has increased the understanding of AUD, more investigation is needed to identify the neurobiological underpinnings in order to improve prevention and treatment strategies.