Networking and Collaborative Research on Obesity-Related Cerebrovascular Dysfunction at the University of Missouri
Description: Obesity is a global health challenge, with prevalence rates rising across all age groups. Beyond its links to cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, obesity is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and dementia. Individuals with obesity face higher risks of stroke, small cerebral vessel disease, and Alzheimer's disease, yet the mechanisms linking obesity to cerebrovascular dysfunction remain poorly understood. Dysregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF), driven by micro- and macrovascular complications, is a key factor in the elevated risk of brain disorders in individuals with obesity. Recent preclinical findings and preliminary studies with humans suggest that altered brain insulin sensitivity and increased sympathetic nervous system activity may play a significant role in the impairment of CBF regulation and cognitive function in obesity. Lifestyle factors, including poor diet, sedentary behavior, and low physical activity, may also exacerbate cerebrovascular disease, but their precise role remains underexplored. In the UK, Dr. Tiago Pecanha is initiating a research line to investigate how obesogenic factors disrupt CBF regulation, focusing on interactions between obesity and cerebrovascular health. The research seeks to identify pathways through which obesogenic factors impair cerebral perfusion and vascular function, aiming to inform interventions for obesity-related cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive decline. Collaborating with Dr. Jacqueline Limberg's lab at the University of Missouri, which specializes in neural control of circulation and vascular physiology in human obesity, will provide valuable insights and methodologies to strengthen this research. This collaboration will enable us to interrogate the role of brain insulin resistance and sympathetic hyperactivity in contributing to cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive decline in obesity. Additionally, fostering such collaborations paves the way for multicentric studies, combining diverse expertise and resources to address these complex questions more comprehensively, ultimately improving the quality and impact of the findings.
Funder: American Heart Association
Amount: $9,900
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: International Visiting Professorship Award
Start date: 2025-04-01
End date: 2026-03-31
Investigators: Jacqueline Limberg, Jacqueline Limberg, Tiago Pecanha
Institutions: University of Missouri-Columbia, Manchester Metropolitan University
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 25IVPHA1468277
OpenAlex ID: G8815067553