Overall, these data show that voluntary alcohol drinking in 3xTg-AD mice is associated with impaired cognitive and emotional functions as compared to saccharin and wild-type controls, which mimic behavioral pathologies seen in humans with AD and suggest that alcohol exacerbated the onset of these symptoms. However, there remains a gap in knowledge regarding the sex- and age-dependent impact of alcohol use on AD-like pathology in older individuals. To address this question, future preclinical studies could evaluate the impact of alcohol exposure in 3xTg-AD mice at timepoints that correspond pre- and post-pathology phases of development in male and female mice.
