1 Division of Addiction Research and Education, Center for Sports, Exercise and Global Mental Health, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California
2 The Kenneth Blum Behavioral and Neurogenetic Institute LLC, Austin, Texas
3 Faculty of Education and Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Budapest
4 Department of Molecular Biology and Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel
5 Division of Personalized Medicine, Cross-Cultural Research and Educational Institute, San Clemente, California
6 Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal
7 Division of Personalized Recovery Science, Transplicegen Therapeutics, Llc., Austin, Tx.
8 Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont
9 Department of Psychiatry, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio
10 Division of Personalized Medicine, Ketamine Clinic of South Florida, Pompano Beach, Florida
11 Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
12 Department of Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
13 Department of Psychology and Behavioral Neuropharmacology and Neuroimaging Laboratory on Addictions, Research Institute on Addictions, University of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
14 Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts
15 Department of Anatomy, Howard University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
16 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California
17 Department of Integrative Medicine and Nutritional Sciences, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
18 Department of Human Development, California State University at Long Beach, Long Beach, California
19 Awareness Integration Institute, San Clemente, California
20 Department of Health Science, California State University at Long Beach, Long Beach, California
21 Department of Psychiatry, University California, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, California
22 Future Biologics, Lawrenceville, Georgia
23 Division of Pediatric Neurology, University of Missouri Health Care-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
24 Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, New York City, New York
AbstractThe Carter Center has estimated that the addiction crisis in the United States (US), if continues to worsen at the same rate, may cost the country approximately 16 trillion dollars by 2030. In recent years, the well-being of youth has been compromised by not only the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic but also the alarming global opioid crisis, particularly in the US. Each year, deadly opioid drugs claim hundreds of thousands of lives, contributing to an ever-rising death toll. In addition, maternal usage of opioids and other drugs during pregnancy could compromise the neurodevelopment of children. A high rate of DNA polymorphic antecedents compounds the occurrence of epigenetic insults involving methylation of specific essential genes related to normal brain function. These genetic antecedent insults affect healthy DNA and mRNA transcription, leading to a loss of proteins required for normal brain development and function in youth. Myelination in the frontal cortex, a process known to extend until the late 20s, delays the development of proficient executive function and decision-making abilities. Understanding this delay in brain development, along with the presence of potential high-risk antecedent polymorphic variants or alleles and generational epigenetics, provides a clear rationale for embracing the Brain Research Commission’s suggestion to mimic fitness programs with an adaptable brain health check (BHC). Implementing the BHC within the educational systems in the US and other countries could serve as an effective initiative for proactive therapies aimed at reducing juvenile mental health problems and eventually criminal activities, addiction, and other behaviors associated with reward deficiency syndrome.
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