Using New Advances in Genetics to Prevent and Treat Substance Use Disorders-View Presentation

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker addresses the intersection of genetics and psychiatry, presenting their work at the Rutgers Addiction Research Center, the largest center of its kind, with a team of over 150 researchers. The focus is on understanding the genetic predispositions to substance use disorders and translating these findings into preventive and personalized care.<br /><br />The speaker highlights significant scientific progress in identifying genetic factors that contribute to the risk of developing addictions. They discuss the methodology of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and how this research can pinpoint hundreds of genetic locations associated with substance use disorders and other behavior-related conditions. The findings reveal that most genetic risks are linked to how the brain processes rewards and consequences, a factor in behaviors classified as externalizing, which includes substance abuse.<br /><br />Throughout the talk, the importance of integrating this genetic knowledge with environmental factors is emphasized. The speaker argues for using this combined understanding to improve early interventions and prevention strategies, especially focusing on temperamental traits in children that could indicate future substance use risks.<br /><br />The speaker advocates for leveraging this genetic understanding not just reactively but proactively, to shift from a treatment model to a predictive and preventive healthcare model. There’s emphasis on the ethical and practical implications of genetic testing, stressing the need for public education on genetic influences on behavior.<br /><br />Lastly, the speaker underscores their involvement in initiatives to convey genetic insights to the broader public in digestible forms, such as through their book aimed at parents, highlighting the necessity of community engagement in this evolving scientific realm.

Keywords

genetics

psychiatry

Rutgers Addiction Research Center

substance use disorders

Genome-Wide Association Studies

genetic predispositions

preventive care

personalized care

brain processes

early interventions

predictive healthcare

genetic testing

public education