EIF2AK2 and neurodegenerative disease: Specifically, interferon gamma (IFNγ), protein kinase R, and phosphorylated PKR, which have been implicated in neuronal apoptosis in other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, are increased in AUD subjects, thereby suggesting that activation of the IFNγ‐protein kinase R pathway may result in AUD‐related brain injury (Johnson et al. 2015).