Reactive Oxygen Species as a Common Pathological Link Between Alcohol Use Disorder and Alzheimer’s Disease with Therapeutic Implications
Hyein Song, Jiyong Lee, Yeeun Lee, Seungju Kim, Shinwoo Kang
Abstract
Chronic alcohol consumption leads to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), driving oxidative stress that contributes to both alcohol use disorder (AUD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review explores how ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation serve as shared pathological mechanisms linking these conditions. We highlight the role of alcohol-induced oxidative damage in exacerbating neurodegeneration and compare ROS-related pathways in AUD and AD. Finally, we discuss emerging therapeutic strategies, including mitochondrial antioxidants and inflammasome inhibitors, that target oxidative stress to mitigate neurodegeneration. Understanding these overlapping mechanisms may provide new insights for preventing and treating ROS-driven neurodegenerative disorders.