Speaker: Isabel Rea (left)

Paper: Endothelial TDP-43 depletion disrupts core blood–brain barrier pathways in neurodegeneration

Talk Description:  TDP43 dysfunction is a hallmark of both ALS-FTD and AD. However, how TDP43 dysfunction can contribute to vascular, and ultimately BBB dysfunction in these diseases is not yet understood. In this presentation, I will describe and critically evaluate how Omar et al. identify disease-associated changes to endothelial cells and microglia from ALS-FTD and AD patients that are driven by a loss of nuclear TDP43.

About the Speaker: Isabel is a PhD candidate at the University of Calgary supervised by Dr. Minh Dang Nguyen and Dr. Jeff Biernaskie. Her research focuses on how the gut microbiome modulates sex differences in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD).

Speaker: Sam Coleborn (right)

Paper: Social isolation and subclinical vascular pathways to cerebrovascular disease

Talk Description:  Psychosocial factors like social support are known to influence risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, yet the underlying mechanism through which they exert their effects remain unclear. This paper by Arcidiamcono et al. (2023) explores how social relationships are related to arterial stiffness and cerebrovascular hemodynamic pulsatility. In my presentation I will highlight the importance of psychosocial factors like social relationship quality for vascular and cognitive aging and how critically important it is to leverage such factors to promote positive health outcomes. 

About the Speaker: Sam is a master’s student in psychology at the University of Victoria, supervised by Dr. Jodie Gawryluk & Dr. Stuart MacDonald. Her research explores how lifestyle factors like social connection influence brain health throughout the lifespan and is passionate about utilizing such factors to promote successful aging.