Genetic influence in addiction with Wei Deng

In this episode, Dr Tsen Vei Lim speaks to Dr Wei Deng, an assistant professor from McMaster University and St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, Canada. The interview covers the research article Wei led examining externalising as a common genetic influence for a broad spectrum of substance use and behavioural conditions using a large UK longitudinal dataset.

‘Externalising’ is a type of outward-directed behavioural expression, such as risky substance use, aggression, and hyperactivity.

‘Polygenic risk scores’ are numbers that estimate a person’s inherited risk for a disease, trait, or condition (in this case, addiction) based on the presence of many genetic variants.

· Why studying genetics is important for addiction [01:12]

· How we study the genetics of addiction [01:57]

· Polygenic risk scores and their importance in addiction [3:49]

· The origin of Wei’s research questions [05:32]

· The headline findings of the paper [08:06]

· How the findings affect the way we currently think about addiction [09:22]

· Common genetic components shared between behavioral and substances addictions [11:11]

· The importance of the environment in the genetic risks of addiction [13:15]

· How the findings can contribute to clinical practice [13:37]

· How big data and artificial intelligence (AI) can help us understand addiction [14:42]

· The exploration of whether genetic factors are the root cause of addiction [18:06]

About Tsen Vei Lim: Dr Lim is an academic fellow supported by the Society for the Study of Addiction, currently based at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. His research integrates computational modelling, experimental psychology, and neuroimaging to understand the neuropsychological basis of addictive behaviours. He holds a PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Cambridge (UK) and a BSc in Psychology from the University of Bath (UK).

About Wei Q Deng: Dr Deng is a statistical scientist who investigates how genes, brain function, and environment shape long-term health risks. Her research focuses on delay discounting and related self-regulation processes that influence decisions about health, substance use, and long-term planning. She studies how these traits contribute to addiction and chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Using large-scale data and molecular tools, she uncovers why some people are more vulnerable and how those risks can be reduced. Based at McMaster University and St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, she leads interdisciplinary projects bridging genomics, behavior, and public health.

Original article: Externalizing as a common genetic influence for a broad spectrum of substance use and behavioural conditions: a development perspective from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.70163

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