The Latest Clinical Trial Research on Brain Reward Systems

Friday, February 15, 2013
Room 309 (Hynes Convention Center)
Paul J. Kenny , The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, FL
Wouldn't it be wonderful to attribute our compulsion for addictive damaging activities and the leading causes of preventable death, such as overeating, smoking or taking illicit drugs, wholly to our genetic make-up and parents? In this presentation, I will discuss the latest clinical and preclinical findings behind compulsive behaviour, made in conjunction with teams of global researchers. Personalized medicine provides plenty of research linking genetics and disease. But establishing a relationship between genetic variation and behavior is trickier. I will discuss what the most recent clinical trials tell us about gene and environment interactions. How does over-consumption of high-fat food trigger addiction-like neuro adaptive responses in our brain-reward circuitry? How does nicotine work as the principal reinforcing component in tobacco smoke responsible for addiction? Why are less than 25% of heroin users proven to be dependent, while other addictive substances need one try for a permanent susceptibility to addiction to occur? I will prove that genetics plays but one part. My talk will demonstrate that compulsive behaviour usually comes about after extended access and shed new light on how the three-legged stool of biological, psychological and social elements work together.