Nutrition, stress, aging seminar
Shyunti Das
Issue date: 2/18/05 Section: Sci-Tech
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The Bioscience and Biotechnology department of the College of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with the Drexel University College of Medicine held a day-long seminar entitled "Why Do We Age? Impact of Nutrition, Stress and Immunity" Feb. 16 in Behrakis Grand Hall.
Organized by Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine & Infectious Disease Brian Wigdahl and CoAS Assistant Professor Elizabeth Garner, the seminar is designed to encourage collaboration between research laboratories at Drexel's University City and the Queen Lane campuses. The Institute for Molecular Medicine & Infectious Disease includes 17 individuals from five different colleges and multiple departments and focusing on bridging together research from diverse fields.
The workshop's keynote address, "Stress-Induced Immune Dysfunction", was given by Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics professor and Behavioral Medicine Research Institute director at Ohio State University Ronald Glaser. Glaser was formerly chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at DUCOM.
Part of the on-going Dean Seminar Series, the speech focused on the high correlation of immune suppression with psychological and emotional stress. Glaser discussed his past studies on both medical students and older caretakers of Alzheimer's patients. Students reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety during exam weeks were found to have lower levels of immune agents, as well as a decreased immune response to a hepatitis B vaccine administered during this time period.
Alzheimer's caregivers were also found to have lower levels of immune system reagents than those in the same age range without the stress of caring for a loved one.
Other speakers included Michael Cancro of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Assistant Professor Elizabeth Garner, Dean Donna Murasko, Jane Clifford of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department and DUCOM, Barry Ritz of both the Bioscience department and the College of Medicine, Assistant Professor Aleister Saunders, and Peter Katsikis of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and DUCOM.
Pictures From The Seminar
Organized by Department of Microbiology and Immunology and Director of the Institute for Molecular Medicine & Infectious Disease Brian Wigdahl and CoAS Assistant Professor Elizabeth Garner, the seminar is designed to encourage collaboration between research laboratories at Drexel's University City and the Queen Lane campuses. The Institute for Molecular Medicine & Infectious Disease includes 17 individuals from five different colleges and multiple departments and focusing on bridging together research from diverse fields.
The workshop's keynote address, "Stress-Induced Immune Dysfunction", was given by Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics professor and Behavioral Medicine Research Institute director at Ohio State University Ronald Glaser. Glaser was formerly chair of the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology at DUCOM.
Part of the on-going Dean Seminar Series, the speech focused on the high correlation of immune suppression with psychological and emotional stress. Glaser discussed his past studies on both medical students and older caretakers of Alzheimer's patients. Students reporting higher levels of stress and anxiety during exam weeks were found to have lower levels of immune agents, as well as a decreased immune response to a hepatitis B vaccine administered during this time period.
Alzheimer's caregivers were also found to have lower levels of immune system reagents than those in the same age range without the stress of caring for a loved one.
Other speakers included Michael Cancro of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Assistant Professor Elizabeth Garner, Dean Donna Murasko, Jane Clifford of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology department and DUCOM, Barry Ritz of both the Bioscience department and the College of Medicine, Assistant Professor Aleister Saunders, and Peter Katsikis of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and DUCOM.
Pictures From The Seminar
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