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Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse social, occupational, or health consequences.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2025)
10%
10%
1-in-10 Americans aged 12 years and older had Alcohol Use Disorder in 2020.
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (2020)
140,557
140,557
140,557 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year.
6.7%
6.7%
Most American adults consume alcohol at least once in their lifetime. Among them, 6.7% will develop Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD).
385
385
Every day, 385 Americans die as a result of excessive alcohol use.
Sex Differences
Sex Differences
Data from clinical populations suggest that men and women have different vulnerabilities to drugs of abuse. For example, men on average use alcohol more and have higher rates of alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUD) compared to women, although other evidence suggests that women who use drugs and alcohol may escalate their use over a shorter time period.
(Grant et al. 2017)
These statistics highlight the critical need for exploration of the mechanisms underlying sex differences in alcohol-drinking behaviors.
These statistics highlight the critical need for exploration of the mechanisms underlying sex differences in alcohol-drinking behaviors.
X Chromosome Inactivation
X Chromosome Inactivation
A novel factor found to affect alcohol drinking is the escape of a process called X-chromosome activation (XCI). Genes that escape XCI in females may be expressed at twice the rate of other genes, which could drive sex differences in behavior. One gene known to escape XCI in the mouse brain is the G protein coupled-receptor associated sorting protein 1 (Gprasp1).
Gprasp1
Gprasp1
Gprasp1 encodes for the GPCR-associated sorting protein GASP-1, which targets a variety of GPCRs for degradation. Specifically, GASP-1 has been shown to regulate the signaling of dopamine, cannabinoid, and opioid receptors, which have vital roles in mediating addiction behaviors. Elevated levels of GASP-1 may bias GPCRs toward degradation and reduce functional receptor expression in XX individuals. Therefore, GASP-1 plays an integral role in determining the level of functional receptors available for signaling in a number of neurotransmitter systems known to participate in alcohol-drinking behaviors.
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