Alpha-lipoic acid in the prevention and treatmentof alcohol-related brain damage
Medical Review (Med. pregled), 2023, 59(6), 26-32.
H. Staykov1, G. Bogdanov1, P. O‘Connor2, R. Nikolov1
1 Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Мedical University of Sofia
2 Faculty of Medicine, Мedical University of Sofia
Abstract. Alcohol-related brain damage is a frequently observed pathology in the context of mental and behavioral disorders due to alcohol use, such as heavy episodic drinking and alcohol dependence. The purpose of this scientific review is to make the hypothesis that alpha-lipoic acid may be a promising pharmacological agent in the prevention and treatment of alcohol-related brain damage. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and neuroprotective effects by affecting the ethanol-induced pathological alterations in activity of the following molecules: NF-κB, TLR2, TLR4, TNFα, Glut, iNOS, PLA2, COX-2, NADPH-oxidase, GSH, CREB, BDNF, Bcl2, as well as the activity of: cAMP, Sirt3, IL-1β, IL-6, and sPLA2. It also affects the catalase-H2O2 system in the brain, potentially involved in the development of alcohol dependence. Future studies could further develop this hypothesis, rationalizing the use of alpha-lipoic acid in future clinical trials and potentially creating a new opportunity to pharmacologically influence the etiopathogenesis of alcohol-related brain damage.
Key words: alpha-lipoic acid, alcohol, neurodegeneration, dementia, alcohol-related brain damge, alcoholism
Address for correspondence: Hristian Staykov, MD, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University, 2 Zdrave St., 1431 Sofia, e-mail: hstaykov@medfac.mu-sofia.bg