Dihydrotestosterone and Finasteride Effects on Alcohol Cue-Elicited Brain Activity in Males With Heavy Episodic Drinking.

ABSTRACT: Preliminary animal and human studies have shown that blood dihydrotestosterone concentrations are increased in males with alcohol use disorder, and 5α-reductase inhibitors, which decrease dihydrotestosterone concentrations, reduce alcohol consumption. To gain mechanistic insight, we studied the effects of reduced dihydrotestosterone concentrations following pharmacological 5α-reductase inhibition on alcohol cue-elicited brain activity and alcohol craving in males with problematic alcohol use. To this end, this randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover challenge experiment investigated associations between dihydrotestosterone concentrations and brain functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activity during exposure to visual alcohol cues and alcohol craving following a single dose of 5 

SUBMITTER: Boroumand-Jazi R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12848907 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature