Prenatal and adolescent alcohol exposure, neuroinflammation, and Alzheimer’s disease: a network meta analysis approach

Abstract Objectives This review aims to determine the connection between developmental alcohol exposure and its potential impact on Alzheimer's disease (AD) later in life. We employ a network meta-analysis approach and examine gene fold changes from literature and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Our goal is to investigate whether prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and/or adolescent alcohol exposure (AAE) could activate specific neuroinflammatory genes, potentially increasing the risk of AD development. Content We conducted a comprehensive analysis of brain datasets using a network meta-analysis approach. By synthesizing gene fold changes from literature and GEO datasets, we examined the potential impact of developmental alcohol exposure on increased risk of developing AD in the future. Summary Our findings reveal significant associations between alcohol exposure and critical functional categories and diseases in the brain. Alcohol exposure was strongly linked to the “Inflammatory Response” and “Nervous System Development and Function” categories, indicative of inflammatory reactions in the brain and detrimental effects on nervous system integrity. Furthermore, we observed links with “Organismal Injury and Abnormalities” and “Cell Death and Survival.” Pathway analysis revealed dysregulation in neuroinflammatory, ERK/MAPK signaling, amyloid processing, IL-1 signaling and calcium signaling pathways, suggesting their potential involvement in alcohol-induced neurotoxicity. Outlook This review highlights the necessity of recognizing developmental alcohol exposure as a potential risk factor for AD and shed light on the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to alcohol-induced neurotoxicity. By expanding our understanding of these mechanisms, we can better address the complex relationship between developmental alcohol exposure and neurodegenerative disorders like AD.