Please mark your calendars for the psychology colloquium on Wednesday, April 9th at 3:30pm. Please join us at BOUS A106 as we welcome Dr. Louise McCullough, Professor and Chair of Neurology at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Dr. McCullough will be presenting her work titled “The Impact of Social and Biological Factors in Stroke.” We look forward to having you with us! Your participation and insights would be greatly valued.
Abstract: The talk will focus on two major topics—
(1) Sex Differences in Stroke: Sex differences in stroke outcomes are influenced by both biological and social factors, with males and females exhibiting distinct clinical presentations and recovery patterns. Pregnancy is also a time of uniquely increased risk for stroke in women. Events that occur during pregnancy (especially pregnancy related hypertension and pre-eclampsia) have long lasting effects on the health of both the mother and her offspring. Women are more likely to experience stroke later in life, often due to age-related factors like menopause, which leads to a decline in estrogen levels, a hormone with protective vascular and neuroprotective effects. Women are more likely to become disabled after their stroke, have higher rates of post-stroke depression and cognitive decline, and are more likely to require nursing home care after hospital discharge. Much if this is due to the older age that woman experience their first stroke, so it is critical to address the contribution of both sex and aging in pre-clinical studies, as the immune response to any injury is age-dependent. Understanding these sex-specific differences at the molecular and cellular levels is essential for developing more effective, precise, and tailored stroke prevention and rehabilitation strategies.
(2) Detrimental Effects of Social Isolation in Stroke and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer physical and mental health, and also increase the risk for both stroke and dementia. After a stroke, individuals often experience a marked reduction in social interactions, which can impair their recovery trajectory. The lack of social support is associated with increased risks of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Animal models have demonstrated that social isolation amplifies neuroinflammation and disrupts neuroplasticity, both of which are crucial for stroke recovery. We have also found that isolation accelerates cognitive decline in animal models of amyloid pathology. Social isolation influences neurotrophic factors, limiting the brain’s capacity to repair and regenerate following injury. We have also found that social isolation induces dramatic systemic changes in inflammation and immunity, and shifts the composition of the gut microbiome, which leads to both inflammation and detrimental metabolic phenotypes in animals and humans.
For more information, contact: Merrisa Lin at merrisa.lin@uconn.edu