Alcohol, Circadian Glymphatic Dysfunction, and Neurodegenerative Protein Accumulation: An Emerging Concern in the Indian Context

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This is an unedited manuscript accepted for publication and provided as an Article in Press for early access at the author’s request. The article will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and galley proof review before final publication. Please be aware that errors may be identified during production that could affect the content. All legal disclaimers of the journal apply.

Year : 2026 | Volume : 3 | 01 | Page :
    By

    Aayush Goyal,

  1. Student, Department of Pharmacy, JBIT College of Pharmacy, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

Alcohol consumption has long been identified as a major public health issue, yet its deeper and more subtle effects on the human brain are only now coming into sharper focus. Traditional explanations often emphasize direct neuronal damage, but emerging research in neuroscience suggests a more intricate story. Recent findings indicate that alcohol not only harms brain cells but also disrupts the body’s internal biological clock—the circadian rhythm—which plays a critical role in regulating sleep, hormonal balance, and metabolic processes. When this natural rhythm becomes disturbed, it can interfere with the brain’s glymphatic system, a specialized “cleaning network” responsible for flushing out toxic waste products during sleep. This glymphatic pathway is essential for clearing harmful proteins such as amyloid-β and tau. When these proteins accumulate, they can contribute to the development and progression of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The hypothesis explored in this paper proposes that alcohol-induced circadian disruption reduces the efficiency of glymphatic clearance, allowing neurotoxic proteins to build up over time and accelerating cognitive decline. Within the Indian context, this issue becomes particularly relevant. Rapid urbanization, hectic work schedules, late-night social drinking, and widespread sleep deprivation are increasingly common lifestyle patterns. These changes coincide with a noticeable rise in dementia cases across the country. A realistic case study from India further illustrates how chronic alcohol use combined with irregular sleep habits can gradually impair brain health, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness and preventive interventions.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption, glymphatic pathway, cerebrospinal fluid, Plasma biomarkers, dementia.

How to cite this article:
Aayush Goyal. Alcohol, Circadian Glymphatic Dysfunction, and Neurodegenerative Protein Accumulation: An Emerging Concern in the Indian Context. International Journal of Brain Sciences. 2025; 03(01):-.
How to cite this URL:
Aayush Goyal. Alcohol, Circadian Glymphatic Dysfunction, and Neurodegenerative Protein Accumulation: An Emerging Concern in the Indian Context. International Journal of Brain Sciences. 2025; 03(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijbs/article=2025/view=237765


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Ahead of Print Subscription Original Research
Volume 03
01
Received 14/10/2025
Accepted 28/10/2025
Published 10/11/2025
Publication Time 27 Days
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