Molecules of the Mind: Dr. Eric Nestler on the Biology of Addiction and Depression, Mt.Sinai Health System

In this episode, featuring Dr. Eric Nestler, offers a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of neuroscience, addiction, and depression. Dr. Nestler explains that both conditions share similar brain mechanisms, particularly within the limbic system, which regulates emotion and motivation. His laboratory’s research delves into how chronic stress or drug exposure alters molecular pathways in these emotional brain regions, leading to maladaptive behaviors. Through advanced techniques like transcriptomics, his team analyzes thousands of brain molecules simultaneously, helping to uncover key differences between healthy and diseased brains. This cutting-edge work not only enhances our understanding of mental health disorders but also opens new possibilities for targeted treatments and resilience-building therapies.

Beyond the science, Dr. Nestler highlights broader social and ethical dimensions. He emphasizes that the global rise in addiction and depression reflects modern societal stressors—social isolation, technological pressures, and post-pandemic effects. 

While innovative approaches like AI-driven analysis and brain–computer interfaces show promise, he cautions that such technologies must be pursued with great ethical care. Ultimately, his message centers on balance: advancing research while nurturing everyday resilience through healthy living, social connection, and emotional awareness. His closing insight—that true health comes from integrating science, empathy, and humanity—resonates as both hopeful and urgent for the future of healthcare.

About

Dr. Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, is a leading neuroscientist and physician renowned for his groundbreaking research on the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying depression and drug addiction. Currently serving as the Interim Dean of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and Chief Scientific Officer of the Mount Sinai Health System, Dr. Nestler has played a transformative role in advancing brain science through his leadership of the Friedman Brain Institute and his own laboratory’s work. His research has shed light on how chronic stress and repeated drug exposure alter gene expression and neural circuits, particularly through discoveries such as the transcription factor ΔFosB, a key regulator of long-term changes in the brain’s reward pathways. Dr. Nestler earned his BA, MD, and PhD from Yale University and has held prominent academic positions at Yale, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and Mount Sinai. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Medicine, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and has published hundreds of influential scientific papers. Deeply committed to diversity in science, Dr. Nestler is also known for promoting inclusive leadership and mentorship throughout his career.