UC Santa Barbara Alumni is excited to collaborate with the Center for Aging and Longevity Studies (CALS) to bring cutting-edge research to the Santa Barbara community. Join us and learn from six UCSB faculty members as they explore the multifaceted challenges and rewards associated with aging and the implications of living longer lives. 

Lecture Three: “Alcohol and Accelerating Aging” with Dr. Karen Szumlinski 

May 22, 2025
Direct Relief
6100 Wallace Becknell Rd
Santa Barbara, CA 93117
Reception: 5:00PM |  Lecture: 6:00PM

Register here!

About Karen Szumlinski

Dr. Szumlinski’s major research interest concerns the biochemical mechanisms underlying the changes in brain and behavior produced by developmental exposure to drugs of abuse, in particular psychomotor stimulants and alcohol. Current research focuses on the role of the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate in drug- and stressor-induced changes in the brain and behavior. Related research examines the role of glutamate signaling in neuropsychiatric disorders associated with substance use disorders, such as psychosis, depression, and cognitive dysfunction. Her research employs a combination of transgenic, neuropharmacological, and immunological approaches to interrogate cause-effect relationships between biomolecular and behavioral pathology. Recent work employs mouse models to understand sex differences in the impact of repeated stress and binge alcohol-drinking on the trajectory of cognitive decline during normal aging and to identify druggable targets for mitigating accelerated brain aging and associated neuropathology. Dr. Szumlinski’s laboratory is involved in a number of collaborative projects with other faculty within the Departments of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, as well as with several research laboratories within the United States and abroad. Her laboratory is currently funded by NIH, as well as by support from UCSB.

Our lecture series will highlight aging and longevity from multiple perspectives, including: biology, neuroscience, psychology, engineering, and anthropology. Speakers are UCSB scholars affiliated with the Center for Aging and Longevity Studies, which aims to improve the human experience by augmenting healthspan, ameliorating age-related diseases, advancing the vitality of an aging population, and investigating the societal impact of extended longevity. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of one of the most pressing issues of our time.