A new study published in Nature Communications suggests that the female hormone estrogen may play a significant role in binge drinking behavior in women. The research reveals that estrogen might drive women to consume large quantities of alcohol in a short time, a pattern commonly referred to as “pre-gaming.”

The study, led by Kristen Pleil, an assistant professor of pharmacology at Weill Cornell Medicine, found that when estrogen levels were high in female mice, their alcohol consumption increased compared to when their estrogen levels were low. This behavior was linked to heightened activity in a brain region called the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a part of the brain previously associated with drinking behavior.

“When a female mouse takes her first sip of alcohol, the neurons in this brain region go into overdrive,” Pleil explained. “If the mouse is in a high-estrogen state, those neurons become even more activated.” This surge in neural activity appears to prompt the mice to drink more heavily, particularly in the first 30 minutes after alcohol is introduced.

Estrogen’s impact on drinking behavior is not a new concept, but this study provides one of the first biological explanations for sex-related differences in binge drinking. The findings are timely, given that recent studies have shown that women increased their heavy alcohol consumption during the pandemic more than men. Additionally, women now experience more alcohol-related hospital visits than their male counterparts.

Interestingly, estrogen’s influence on the brain in this context is faster and more direct than typically expected. While hormones usually alter behavior through a slower process of gene activity, this study found that estrogen excites neurons almost immediately. “We believe this is the first time anyone has shown that estrogen made by the ovaries can use such a rapid mechanism to control behavior,” Pleil said.

The research also hints that the findings may extend to men. While estrogen is produced in smaller amounts in males, it is still present, converted from the male hormone testosterone. Future research will explore whether the same brain mechanisms influencing drinking in females could apply to males.

This study opens potential pathways for treating binge drinking. Researchers suggest that targeting estrogen levels or blocking its effects on brain cells might help reduce excessive alcohol consumption in women.

As scientists continue to delve into the role of hormones in addictive behaviors, this groundbreaking research could lead to more effective treatment options for binge drinking in both women and men.