An in vitro study on the effect of exercise on brain health in the elderly: Studying the crosstalk between brain, skeletal muscle and adipose tissues
2020 MIRA Postdoctoral Fellow
Exercised skeletal muscle cells are believed to affect brain health and prevent neurodegenerative diseases either directly or indirectly. The objective of the current study is to develop an in vitro model that reliably recreates the effect of exercise on brain health by considering skeletal muscle, adipose and neuronal tissues to identify important signaling factors involved in this process. This model will be used to identify possible drugs that can improve, supplement, or replace the positive effects of exercise on brain health by inducing its effects on skeletal muscle tissue, which will be beneficial for older adults or those that cannot exercise due to physical impairments.
Alireza Shahin-Shamsabadi
Mechanical Engineering
Supervisor: Ravi Selvaganapathy, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Mentors: Margaret Fahnestock, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences,
Aimee Nelson, Department of Kinesiology
