A5022006302- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Birth, Development, and Health
- Neurological Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Medicinal Plants and Bioactive Compounds
- Biochemical effects in animals
- Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions
- Reproductive System and Pregnancy
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Nerve injury and regeneration
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
Tufts University
2022-2024
Simmons University
2015-2024
Northeastern University
2018-2024
Adversity early in life substantially impacts prefrontal cortex (PFC) development and vulnerability to later-life psychopathology. Importantly, repeated adverse experiences throughout childhood increase the risk for PFC-mediated behavioral deficits more commonly women. Evidence from animal models points effects of adversity on neural dysfunction; however, few studies have investigated neurobiological underpinnings sex-specific, long-term consequences multiple developmental stressors. We...
Consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) may result in behavioral deficits similar to those observed aging animals. Blueberries prevent and even reverse age-related alterations neurochemistry behavior. It was previously demonstrated that middle-aged mice fed HFD had impaired memory; however, supplementation of with blueberry reduced these memory deficits. As follow-up study, the brain tissue from HFD-fed without assessed determine neuroprotective mechanism(s) by which allayed cognitive dysfunction...
Adolescence is pivotal for neural and behavioral development across species. During this period, maturation occurs in several biological systems, the most well-recognized being activation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis marking pubertal onset. Increasing comparative studies sex differences have enriched our understanding systems integration during neurodevelopment. In recent years, immune signaling has emerged as a key node interaction between variety processes. Herein, we review age-...
Microglia are resident immune cells of the brain that can regulate neural communication and excitability. Any environmental influence on microglial activity has potential to alter subsequent physiology behavior. Within prefrontal cortex, several types stressors have been shown increase expression activation markers such as ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule-1 (Iba-1), which suggests altered activity. Recent reports in rodents suggest exposure forms early-life stress maternal separation...
Early life adversity (ELA) increases the likelihood of later-life neuropsychiatric disorders and cognitive dysfunction. Importantly, ELA, disorders, deficits all involve aberrant immune signaling. Microglia are primary neuroimmune cells regulate brain development. particularly sensitive to early insults, which can program their responses future challenges. ELA in form maternal separation (MS) rats alters microglial morphology inflammatory profile prefrontal cortex, a region important for...
Objectives Research has shown that berries may have the ability to reverse, reduce, or slow progression of behavioral dysfunction associated with aging and neurodegenerative disease. In contrast, high-energy high-fat diets (HFD) result in deficits like those seen animals. This research examined whether red raspberry (Rubus ideaus) mitigates effects HFD on mouse brain behavior.Methods Eight-week-old mice consumed a (60% calories from fat) control diet (CD) without 4% freeze-dried (RB)....
ABSTRACT Methadone and buprenorphine are commonly prescribed during pregnancy to maintain recovery prevent symptoms of withdrawal in women with opioid use disorder. Infants prenatally exposed medications for disorder (MOUD), however, show signs neonatal syndrome (NOWS), which can include feeding‐related issues like hyperphagia. To investigate the effects prenatal MOUD exposure on feeding behavior, female Sprague‐Dawley rats were implanted osmotic minipumps filled methadone, buprenorphine, or...
Previously it was demonstrated that 9 month old mice fed a high fat diet (HFD, Harlan, TD.06414, 60% calories from lard fat) for five months had impaired memory; however supplementation of the HFD with 4% blueberry (BB, freeze‐dried extract, U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council) reduced these memory deficits. The brains were dissected, homogenized, and assayed ELISA brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis (TNF)‐alpha, evaluated oxidative stress by examining...
Abstract Adversity early in life substantially impacts prefrontal cortex (PFC) development and vulnerability to later-life psychopathology. Importantly, repeated adverse experiences throughout childhood increase the risk for PFC-mediated behavioral deficits more commonly women. Evidence from animal models points effects of adversity on neural dysfunction; however, few studies have investigated neurobiological underpinnings sex-specific, long term consequences multiple developmental...