Executive Summary : | Alcohol addiction is linked to neuropsychological deficits, such as impaired set shifting, response inhibition, poor decision making, planning, and organizing, which perpetuate the cycle of addiction and relapses. Chronic alcohol consumption has been shown to cause alteration in the gut microbial flora and changes in the gut luminal barrier. The resident bacterial products, especially endotoxins, of certain specific gut bacteria might trigger brain inflammatory processes, modulating various cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of addictive disorders. Restoring the altered gut microbiome constitution via pre/probiotics could indirectly impact the altered cognitive and emotional processes in the context of alcohol addiction. Introducing probiotics and prebiotics can facilitate healthy gut microbiome and alter behavioral aspects of addiction, such as craving and motivation in subjects with alcohol use disorder. The severity of alcohol addiction is correlated with the intensity of their craving, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. Systemic inflammation may play an important role in the development of alcohol addiction, as gut barrier dysfunction and inflammation in both the gut and liver may contribute to peripheral inflammation and brain inflammation. Understanding the role of the gut brain axis in the neurobiological and behavioral components of alcohol addiction is crucial for developing effective treatments and interventions. This study aims to examine the addictive behaviors of individuals with alcohol use disorder, cognition, and gut microbiome before and after dietary prebiotic supplementation. |