Studying diseases concomitant with alcoholism has provided insight into mechanisms and brain targets of uncomplicated alcoholism. Diseases such as WE/KS can be approximately modeled in animals, while HE, CPM, and alcoholism per se can be challenging to model in rodents. In reviewing the neuroimaging literature related in AUD, some challenges become immediately apparent. The dynamic nature of the disease makes it difficult to capture individuals with AUD at the same time point of the disease course and humans tend to have complex histories with a variety of confounders that may contribute to brain changes. While longitudinal studies now help tackle some of these limitations, preclinical studies are also critical to help isolate and describe changes at distinct time points of disease progression. Indeed, the study of both humans and animal models is valuable to allow for the a better understanding of AUD. A critical and comprehensive assessment of humans with DSM-5 defined alcoholism is essential to describing the chronic effects of alcohol on the brain. Animal models, although imperfect, allow for a deeper investigation of the mechanism underlying the brain
