A5030600161- Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Religion, Society, and Development
- Religion and Society Interactions
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health
- Cardiomyopathy and Myosin Studies
- Cardiovascular Effects of Exercise
- Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Muscle Physiology and Disorders
- Resilience and Mental Health
- Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
- Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Optimism, Hope, and Well-being
- Personality Traits and Psychology
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Community Health and Development
- Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
Van Andel Institute
2016-2025
Medical University of South Carolina
2024
The University of Queensland
2024
Mater Adult Hospital
2024
Northern Arizona University
2019-2022
Michigan State University
2015-2021
University of Phoenix
2020
A.T. Still University
2013-2019
Middle East Studies Association of North America
2011-2017
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
2013-2014
Cell-to-cell propagation of α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates is thought to contribute the pathogenesis Parkinson's disease (PD) and underlie spread α-syn neuropathology. Increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels activated microglia are present in PD can promote aggregation. However, it unclear how influence cell-to-cell transfer. We developed a clinically relevant mouse model monitor prion-like between cells; we transplanted wild-type embryonic midbrain neurons into striatum overexpressing...
Mitochondrial pyruvate carrier may be a therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative with no approved disease-modifying therapies. Multiplications, mutations, and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the SNCA gene, encoding α-synuclein (aSyn) protein, either cause or increase risk for PD. Intracellular accumulations of aSyn are pathological hallmarks Taken together, reduction production may provide therapy We show that antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) reduce rodent preformed fibril (PFF) models Reduced leads to...
Abstract Alpha-synuclein inclusions, the hallmarks of synucleinopathies, are suggested to spread along neuronal connections in a stereotypical pattern brains patients. Ample evidence now supports that pathological forms alpha-synuclein propagate cell culture models and vivo prion-like manner. However, it is still not known why same protein targets different populations, propagates with kinetics leads variety diseases (synucleinopathies) distinct clinical features. The aggregation yields...
Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. In vast majority of cases origin not genetic and cause well understood, although progressive accumulation α-synuclein aggregates appears central to pathogenesis. Currently, treatments that slow progression are lacking, there no robust biomarkers can facilitate development such or act as aids in early diagnosis. Therefore, we have defined metabolomic changes brain serum an animal model prodromal We biochemically profiled...
The present study used qualitative methods to examine if and how African Americans with cancer use religiosity in coping. Patients (N = 23) were recruited from physician offices completed 1–1½ hour interviews. Themes that emerged included but not limited control over one's illness, emotional response, importance of social support, role God as a healer, relying on God, faith for recovery, prayer scripture study, making sense the illness. Participants had great deal say about religion These...
ABSTRACT Researchers have expressed growing interest in factors that may explain the relationship between religious involvement and health‐related outcomes. Faith‐based organizations are a significant institution African American communities, both serving religious/spiritual needs providing an important source of social capital. These communities often suffer disproportionate burden health conditions as well. The present study examined role capital (social support, interconnectedness,...
For people with Parkinson's disease (PD), considered the most common neurodegenerative behind Alzheimer's disease, accurate diagnosis is dependent on many factors; however, misdiagnosis extremely in prodromal phases of when treatment thought to be effective. Currently, there are no robust biomarkers that aid early PD. Following previously reported work by our group, we accurately measured concentrations 18 bile acids serum a mouse model We identified three at significantly different (p <...
Religious social support may in part account for the relationship between religious involvement and health-related outcomes. African Americans, on average, tend to have relatively high levels of involvement, suffer a higher burden health conditions than other groups. This study aimed examine whether played mediating role physical emotional functioning, depressive symptoms.The used cross sectional telephone survey among national probability sample Americans (n = 803). Study participants...
Using 2010 national data, we investigate the relationship between social integration and health insurance for African American adults. During previous year 21.6% of men 19.8% women lacked continuous insurance. The effect marital status, income, employment on coverage differed by age gender. Additionally, frequency church attendance was positively associated with aged 51-64. Spiritual/religious identity marginally status 36-50. As provisions Affordable Care Act take effect, implementation...
Abstract One way of developing culturally relevant health communication in the African American church setting is to develop spiritually based interventions, which message framed by spiritual themes and scripture. In this article we describe development a community advisor(CHA)-led intervention aimed at increasing informed decision making (IDM) for prostate cancer screening among church-attending men. Full-color print educational booklets were developed pilot tested with extensive...
There are no approved treatments that slow Parkinson's disease (PD) progression and therefore it is important to identify novel pathogenic mechanisms can be targeted. Loss of the epigenetic marker, Tet2 appears have some beneficial effects in PD models, but underlying mechanism action not well understood. We performed an unbiased transcriptomic analysis cortical neurons isolated from patients with dysregulated pathways determine their potential contributions process. discovered genes...
Abstract A key challenge in Parkinson's disease research is to understand mechanisms underlying selective degeneration of dopaminergic neurons mediated by genetic factors such as α‐synuclein (α‐Syn). The present study examined whether dopamine (DA)‐dependent oxidative stress underlies α‐Syn‐mediated neurodegeneration using Drosophila primary neuronal cultures. Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was used identify live cultures prepared on a marked photoetched coverslip, which allowed us...
The present study examined the relationship between social capital and depressive symptoms moderating role of Big Five personality constructs in a national sample African American adults. Data were collected from probability 803 men women using telephone survey including measures traits, capital, symptomatology. Most interestingly, there was evidence for Personality X Social Capital interactions on symptoms. Higher related to lower symptomology among persons with low conscientiousness,...
Autophagic dysregulation and lysosomal impairment have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, partly due to identification mutations multiple genes involved these pathways such as GBA, SNCA, ATP13a2 (also known PARK9), TMEM175 LRRK2. Mutations resulting dysfunction are proposed contribute disease by increasing α-synuclein levels, that turn may promote aggregation this protein. Here, we used two different genetic models-one heterozygous for a mutated form GBA protein...
α-Synuclein (α-syn) is the predominant protein in Lewy-body inclusions, which are pathological hallmarks of α-synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Other include activation microglia, elevation pro-inflammatory cytokines, well T B cells. These immune changes point towards a dysregulation both innate adaptive system. cells have been shown to recognize epitopes derived from α-syn altered populations found PD MSA patients, providing evidence that...
ABSTRACT Spiritual and religious capital are forms of the broader construct social capital. The present study, using probability‐based sampling methods, surveyed a national sample African American adults to examine relative contributions spiritual their physical emotional functioning. Analyses were conducted determine if these constructs made unique contribution above beyond general men women ( N = 803) interviewed by telephone. Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that, across full...