Neuroinflammation is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of many neurodegenerative disorders,108,109 and a mechanistic role for this process in ARBD has recently been proposed.110 The brain cells that might mediate neuroinflammation are microglia, which can exist in multiple states, with the activation of these cells resulting in either anti-inflammatory or pro inflammatory responses.111 A recent study investigated several markers of brain inflammation in ‘brain bank’ tissue from patients with alcoholism and individuals who had moderate levels of alcohol consumption. Various patterns of positive signs of neuroinflammation were identified in the ventral tegmental area, substantia nigra, hippocampus and amygdala in the individuals with alcoholism,110 providing some support for a mechanistic role for inflammation in al cohol-related alterations to the brain reward system.
