Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference (MassURC)

Drug abuse or alcohol is never a good thing, but to truly know what's going on in the brain is important. They have an adverse effect on how our brain receive, send or process information affecting neurological and behavioral function. The objective of my study is to dive a little deeper, to understand how glial cells, specifically astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes are affected during drug abuse and alcohol intake. To achieve this, I conducted a thorough review of existing scientific literature and case studies. Astrocytes form the blood brain barrier and oligodendrocytes are important for myelination. Activation of Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) due to alcohol abuse in glial cells can trigger signaling cascades that contribute to the immune response and play a role in various neurological processes, including neuroinflammation. TLRs play a crucial role in diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke, ALS, and brain damage from alcohol. We can argue that glial influences the cellular, molecular, and synaptic changes that occur in neurons following drug exposure. But drug abuse will lead to inflammation and serious functional changes in glial cells. Since the cells will be affected they won't be able to do their roles, such as supportive roles in the nervous system. In summary, this study explains the detrimental and lasting impact of drug and alcohol abuse on brain tissue. It reveals the importance and urgency of raising awareness within our communities to combat substance abuse effectively.

Research Area	Presenter	Title	Keywords
Public Health and Epidemiology	Morris, Madison Ashley	Lifestyle and Reaction Time	alcohol

Research Area

Presenter

Title

Keywords

Public Health and Epidemiology

Morris, Madison Ashley

Lifestyle and Reaction Time

alcohol

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