GLP-1 Receptor Agonists

A Potential Treatment for AUD

Authors

  • Robert Kemp University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Author

Abstract

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic substance use disorder characterized by uncontrolled alcohol consumption. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, it affects roughly 28.9 million people in the US (2024) and was linked to 2.6 million preventable deaths worldwide in 2019 (World Health Organization, 2024). One major roadblock in treating AUD is the limited availability of prescribable medications-only three are currently approved in the United States. Consequently, a major focus of current research is finding suitable therapeutic agents. Recent clinical studies suggest GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), which are normally used to treat Type 2 diabetes, may be potential candidates. 

Author Biography

  • Robert Kemp, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

    Robert is sophomore at the University of Illinois majoring in biochemistry. Robert joined Double Helix Digest because he is interested in learning about the biochemical mechanisms underlying human disease, pharmacology, and endocrinology. On campus, Robert studies enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway for a common chemotherapy agent in the Schuler lab. He is also the president of a social fraternity. 

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Published

2025-07-14

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 1 (2025): Double Helix Digest at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: An Undergraduate Journal Focused on Biology, Chemistry, and Related Fields

Section

Review Articles