Wired for risk: Cindy Ehlers on the science of addiction and mental health
April 2025 | 21 min 20 sec
Depression and alcohol dependence are often seen as personal struggles—but decades of study by Scripps Research professor Cindy Ehlers reveal a much bigger picture. In this episode of Science Changing Life, Ehlers breaks down how biology, culture and trauma interact to shape mental health outcomes.
Learn how her work is paving the way for more effective interventions, and how new strategies—like culturally grounded prevention programs and digital tools—can reduce harm in high-risk communities.
Episode topics: Addiction, addiction research, alcohol dependence, alcohol use, depression, endophenotypes, epigenetics, genetics, mental health, trauma, prevention programs, youth prevention
Download Ep. 55 Transcript The award-winning Science Changing Life podcast offers an inside look into how Scripps Research scientists are solving the most pressing mysteries in human health and disease. Join hosts Lauren Fish and Melissa Suran, PhD, as they speak with world-class scientists at the forefronts of immunology, infectious disease, artificial intelligence, personalized medicine, neuroscience and much more.
Science Changing Life gives listeners a glimpse into the people behind the science, their motivations, paths to discovery, and how they’re changing the world.
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