[Epigenetic changes in alcohol addiction and therapeutic perspectives].
Annales pharmaceutiques francaises January 1, 2025 Olivier Pierrefiche
Alcohol consumption remains a major public health problem. Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder can benefit from five treatments that target membrane receptors, but their efficacy is generally modest. A large body of experimental evidence points to an important role for epigenetics in the effects of alcohol, and epidrugs that modify the epigenome offer an alternative. This article reviews experimental evidence from animal models at different ages, compares it with human data, and assesses the relevance of using epidrugs. It also suggests a new therapeutic option linking psychedelics, recent molecules of interest, and epigenetic factors in alcohol intake.