{"id":384,"date":"2022-12-10T15:57:25","date_gmt":"2022-12-10T22:57:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/?p=384"},"modified":"2023-09-07T16:20:47","modified_gmt":"2023-09-07T23:20:47","slug":"nau-boundless-feature-improving-health-for-older-populations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/nau-boundless-feature-improving-health-for-older-populations\/","title":{"rendered":"NAU Boundless Feature – Improving Health for Older Populations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Original Article posted on NAU Boundless – November 21, 2022<\/p>\n

Improving health for older populations<\/h3>\n

Undergrad researchers join redox biologist Tinna Traustad\u00f3ttir in a clinical study of broccoli-based interventions for healthier aging.<\/h4>\n

A new study led by NAU Associate Professor Tinna Traustad\u00f3ttir is investigating the relationship between aging, exercise, and phytonutrients\u2014nutrients found in plants such as broccoli. Paradoxically, her team includes undergraduates from a decidedly younger population.<\/p>\n

Does exercise + phytonutrients = healthy aging?
\nFunded through a $448,752 grant from the National Institutes of Health\u2019s (NIH) National Institute on Aging, the study builds on Traustad\u00f3ttir\u2019s previous research in the field of oxidation-reduction, or \u201credox\u201d biology, aiming to understand the specific age-related changes taking place at the molecular level that increase oxidative stress and reduce the ability of older individuals to adapt to physiological stress. Along with her lab team, Traustad\u00f3ttir examines whether age-related deficits observed in sedentary older individuals can be restored through exercise or phytonutrient interventions.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur lab was the first to show that acute exercise stimulates an important cell signaling protein called Nrf2 in humans,\u201d Traustad\u00f3ttir says. \u201cThe decline in the quality of cell signaling may be a normal part of aging, but we believe it can be modulated by lifestyle, including nutrition and physical activity. Our previous work has shown that older adults have an impaired response to a single session of exercise compared to younger people. In this study, we\u2019re investigating whether we can improve the body\u2019s response by combining acute exercise with sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. The insights we gain could have an enormous impact by improving the health and well-being of older Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Students and Professor Traustad\u00f3ttir look at results on computer screen as study subject rides stationary bicycle while hooked up to monitors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Traustad\u00f3ttir and her team are working with Assistant Professor Robert Buscaglia on power and data analyses. \u201cRobert is the biostatistician and a co-investigator on the project,\u201d she says. \u201cHe has a very unique background because he has two PhDs\u2014one in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the other in Applied Mathematics\u2014so he understands both physiology and statistics.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team is also collaborating with co-investigators at Villanova University: Aimee Eggler is a biochemist who investigates the molecular mechanisms of foods such as broccoli and kale and their role in preventing chronic disease, while Anthony Lagalante brings expertise as an analytical chemist to the team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll test our hypothesis using two different experiments,\u201d Traustad\u00f3ttir says. \u201cThe first experiment will use a unique approach, where instead of actually having the study subjects ingest any sulforaphane, we will stimulate immune blood cells collected from them. This will control for any individual differences in digestion of the phytonutrient. The second experiment will measure the responses in blood samples collected from older men and women before and after exercise, after ingesting either the sulforaphane supplement or a placebo. We will then be able to compare the responses from each individual from the first experiment to the second experiment, and between the supplement and the placebo response.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Traustad\u00f3ttir Lab offers many opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students. Izaac Molina, Elyse Policastro, and Kayla Harnist are currently working on the study, learning through Traustad\u00f3ttir\u2019s mentoring as well as from her collaborators. Buscaglia, for example, is training students on the team in data management and analysis techniques.<\/p>\n

Students in the lab are responsible for many different aspects of a study like this one, including assisting with screening participants, conducting the exercise trials, processing the blood samples, and performing analyses.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the things that is unique about the work we do,\u201d Traustad\u00f3ttir says, \u201cis that we are doing molecular measures in clinical research\u2014so these students get trained both in clinical testing and clinical procedures as well as in molecular biology and wet lab procedures. Three of my former students have gone on to medical school; some have gone on to be physician assistants, naturopathic doctors, and physical therapists; while others have gone into academia as postdocs and researchers.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you start seeing the students take ownership\u2014for example, when I walk into the lab, and I see a student explaining something to another student who\u2019s new and it\u2019s all correct\u2014for me, that\u2019s probably one of my proudest moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Molina, a senior Biology major from Tucson, joined Traustad\u00f3ttir\u2019s lab in his junior year to gain some hands-on experience. \u201cI had done plenty of biology coursework prior to joining the lab, but I wanted to see the material applied in a practical way,\u201d Molina says. \u201cThe aging process is so complex, yet so essential to the human experience, that I wanted to contribute to research focused on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a returning researcher this year, Molina trains newer lab members on common procedures. \u201cIt feels good to help Dr. Traustad\u00f3ttir through this stressful yet exciting process, and I love our lab community,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Molina received the Hooper Undergraduate Research Award (HURA) in spring 2022, enabling him to launch a related project of his own. He will present his results at NAU\u2019s Hooper and Urdea Poster Presentations and Undergraduate Research Symposium in spring 2023, and encourages other NAU undergraduates to consider participating in research. \u201cRegardless of your desired life path, being able to observe and contribute to the creation of new knowledge is something that is such a blessing,\u201d he says. \u201cBeing involved in research has given me a newfound perspective and appreciation for my chosen course of study. I believe that getting involved in research can really open your eyes to the complexities and intricacies of the scientific world.\u201d<\/p>\n

After graduation, Molina will stay at NAU to earn a second bachelor\u2019s degree in Computer Science and continue research in this fast-changing field. \u201cI hope to combine my interests in Computer Science and Biology to innovate in the field of biotechnology.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my lab, we\u2019re passionate about healthy aging and preventing disease,\u201d Traustad\u00f3ttir says. \u201cWe don\u2019t use the term anti-aging because we focus on successful aging. We want people to be healthy and be able to enjoy life as long as possible. I\u2019m excited about this project because we\u2019re building on our previous work and taking another step in our journey. And it\u2019s so simple, but this combination of exercise and green nutrients could have big implications. It could be really cool.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for Molina, being an undergraduate researcher has been unforgettable. \u201cI believe I\u2019m truly making an impact by working towards discoveries that will enable successful aging in an affordable and practical way,\u201d Molina says. \u201cIt\u2019s incredible how all-encompassing redox biology is, and how many diseases can be linked to the body\u2019s issues with redox regulation. Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and even anxiety and depression have all been partially linked to a lack of redox balance in the body.\u201d<\/p>\n

Traustad\u00f3ttir and her prot\u00e9g\u00e9s continue to make strides in redox research. Who knows what they will discover next?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Original Article posted on NAU Boundless – November 21, 2022 Improving health for older populations Undergrad researchers join redox biologist Tinna Traustad\u00f3ttir in a clinical study of broccoli-based interventions for healthier aging. A new study led by NAU Associate Professor Tinna Traustad\u00f3ttir is investigating the relationship between aging, exercise, and phytonutrients\u2014nutrients found in plants such […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":476,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/476"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=384"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":392,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/384\/revisions\/392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=384"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=384"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/traustadottir-lab-biological-sciences\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=384"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}