{"id":132890,"date":"2023-11-16T14:43:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-16T19:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ccs.ca\/?post_type=news&p=132890"},"modified":"2023-12-04T10:09:38","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T15:09:38","slug":"biomarker-study-seeks-to-understand-how-location-and-type-of-body-fat-is-linked-to-cognitive-decline","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/ccs.ca\/news\/biomarker-study-seeks-to-understand-how-location-and-type-of-body-fat-is-linked-to-cognitive-decline\/","title":{"rendered":"Biomarker Study Seeks to Understand How Location and Type of Body Fat is Linked to Cognitive Decline"},"content":{"rendered":"
Clinician-scientist Dr. Marie Pigeyre is the winner of the CCS Cardiometabolic Research Award<\/em><\/strong> for her project Identifying novel biomarkers linking adiposity (body fat) to cognitive function: the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds (CAHHM) Biomarker Study.<\/strong> Dr. Pigeyre completed a MD in endocrinology and a PhD in epidemiology and genetics at the University of Lille in France. She came to Canada for post-doctoral and international fellowships at McMaster University, studying diabetes and obesity biomarkers and the link to cardiovascular disease. Since 2019, Dr. Pigeyre has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at McMaster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We sat down with Dr. Pigeyre to discuss her research program and find out how it could change practice and impact the lives of Canadians.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: Let\u2019s start by asking you why you selected this area of research?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A:<\/strong> I\u2019ve been interested in understanding why obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease for a long time, and now I\u2019m expanding my research to better understand the link between adiposity (body fat), cardiovascular consequences, and cognitive decline. This research is fascinating because there are still so many questions in the field. We think that the location of adiposity in the body is important. Fat can be stored under the skin (subcutaneous fat) or inside the belly, wrapped around the organs, and in the liver. We think it\u2019s the fat stored in the belly (visceral fat) that is responsible for cardiovascular complications and cognitive impairment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: What kind of biomarkers are you looking for? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A:<\/strong> Visceral fat produces little molecules that move into our blood (also called biomarkers) that can be measured. We are most interested in adipokines, which are cell-signalling molecules (cytokines), secreted by adipose tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Q: What\u2019s the value of this research?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A: <\/strong> If we identify biomarkers that are involved in the contribution of visceral adiposity to cognitive impairment, we can develop a screening test to early identify individuals at high risk, and develop new personalized targets for intervention. For example, if a biomarker can be modified with a specific drug, we could use that drug to protect individuals. Or, if a biomarker can be modified with physical activity or a specific diet intervention, other treatment approaches could be used to reduce the risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n