From Genes to Addiction: How Risk Unfolds Across the Lifespan | Dr. Danielle Dick | TEDxRVA

What does it mean when something like addiction or depression is genetically influenced? Are people who are at risk destined to develop problems? Psycologist Danielle Dick explores how our genes and our environments come together across the lifespan to create multiple pathways that can influence addiction.
#addiction #mentalhealth #behavior #genetics

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. It was filmed and edited by Tijo Media at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Arts Center in Richmond, VA.

Dr. Danielle Dick is a Professor in Psychology, African American Studies, and Human and Molecular Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research examines genetic contributions to substance use and mental health outcomes, and how the importance of genetic predispositions changes in different environments. She has received millions of dollars of grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and won numerous national and international awards for her research. She founded and directs the College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute and runs a study called Spit for Science with nearly 10,000 college students taking part.

[awayinfinite]

My dad is alcoholic, my grandparents were too. I am in my 20s and never once drink any kind of alcohol because I am too afraid of become an alcoholic, and I can live perfectly fine without it

[AimeeDenise_bct]

So much respect to all those helping others heal. It's a true calling. I absolutely found my purpose as well in telling my story from years of complete despair to healing my brain and getting my life back! 💟🦋🕉

[elijahdunmore]

HI THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO I JUST WANTED TO DROP A FEW LINES ON MY JOURNEY I WILL BE SOBER FOR 2 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS AS OF THIS FEBRUARY 6-2023 THE ENVIRONMENT I GREW UP IN DRINK LOTS OF ALCOHOL I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN AND I WAS A PART OF THAT ENVIRONMENT IT TOOK ME YEARS TO STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF FOR STAYING AWAY FROM THAT POSIN YOU CAN DO IT ONE DAY AT A TIME THANK AGAIN FOR SHARING ❤❤❤

[jhthorn]

Thank you for carrying on a necessary message.

[melissawright]

great video. I'm going to share in my S.U.D group today. Knowledge is power.

[J]

Genetic mutations will tell you the majority of what you need but environmental factors are also important. But good ol’ neurotransmitters still play one of the bigger roles in addiction those who produce “higher Glutamate” with “lower gaba” tend to be much more prone to alcohol addiction.

[dougdougy]

6:56 "fun seeking & highly impulsive" = ADHD

[lindajakub]

I had m uch trauma as a child. My kid's had trauma. 3 if 5 are addicts. Oldest is 50. I don't know how to help them. Reparenting obviously is not an option. So much PAIN

[jasonjerome]

I'm an alcoholic, my father is, his sister is, and their parents were too.

[lindajakub]

My father, his mother, his uncles, my mother's father, her brother, all difficult people and or alcoholics. Trauma, genetics???

[keycrazy]

Just my opinion, but this presentation reveals basically nothing.

Nothing said has any novelty in the field of addiction, nor does any content in this video help students of this discipline what so ever.

[jacquelinerowdy]

I think the depressive brain is the same as the addicted brain. I think addiction is enherrited in genes. So all addiction is the same but it exhibit in different addictions. I also think the depressive brain is addicted to extreme hormone swings? ( don't know hormone is the right trigger or addictive factor?) The reason is extreme stress/emotion for a long time. Wich makes the addictive brain addictive to the swings. I think dopamine levels could be they key factor. But I am far from a specialist so I cannot explain why besides I geth that feeling about googling and analyse everything. I post this text here to hope some specialist are willing to give feedback or research this topic. Thank you

[annalisette]

people will still continue to get caught into addictions. Research need to find the physiological causes and cures for addictions.

[Futszur]

I think it's silly to think you can be born with a mind sets. knowledge can not be inherited for example, a person grows up around smokers than becomes a smoker. That doesn't mean they have a genetic link or inherited the knowledge of addiction it means they have grown up around it therefore more likely to do it(environmental). Doesn't mean they where born to do it. You can use language as a example. You can get a baby who's parents and grandparents ect ect speak English and that baby will learn to speak a different language just as well as it would've learnt English if the baby grew up with that different language. Silly to say that because your parents, grandparents are addicts that you yourself have addictive genes, do we have genes that predispose you to different languages and mind sets?

[kellyparker]

Low parental monitoring sounds like blaming the parent. We had a child that was very loved and appropriately monitored yet substance abuse devastated her. Maybe it’s because we don’t have Generals and fighter pilots in our family.

[Ramadhan-cbfu]

There is zero correlation between genetics and addiction.