February is American Heart Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about the health impacts of heart disease and to spotlight the innovative ways that Mass General researchers are working to tackle these challenges.
Exercise has proven to have a considerably positive effect on cardiovascular health for those of all ages. In the United States, people in the top 25% of all physical activity have an average reduction in risk of heart disease between 48 to 57 percent.
Christiane Wrann PhD, DVM, Leader of the Program in Neuroprotection in Exercise at MGH, and her team at the Wrann Lab have been working diligently to uncover the effect of exercise on brain health and metabolism, which is also closely connected to heart health.
See her answers below when we interviewed her about the exciting research at the Wrann Lab!
What Research Do You Perform at the Wrann Lab?
The Wrann Lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms of the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism and the brain. The ultimate goal of our research is to identify new therapeutic targets to slow down cognitive impairment in aging or neurodegenerative diseases.
I think what makes us particularly strong on the science side is that we can start from the physiology of exercise, how it affects cognitive function, how it affects mood, and then transition down to the molecules and tell you, “These are the molecules that create that effect.” We can then develop a therapeutic solution to the research target or disease. I think that process is very interesting and is our major strength.
Who Makes Up The Wrann Lab?
The Wrann Lab is highly dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. I am particularly interested in supporting women in science and underrepresented minorities in science. My lab has always had a much higher percentage of female students, post-doctorates, and research assistants. As a result, I believe that our lab strongly emphasizes and values diversity and inclusion, making the Wrann Lab a very nurturing environment to foster young talent.
How Are Brain Health and Heart Health Connected?
I think the most interesting feature that connects brain and heart health together is aerobic exercise, which is what improves our cardio-respiratory fitness. This type of exercise is everything that requires more endurance, such as running, hiking, or biking.
We know that aerobic exercise improves your cardiovascular health, but it also improves brain health by reducing many of the cardiovascular risk factors that can lead to poor circulation and other factors. One of the highest risk factors for poor brain health is high blood pressure, and that can improve through exercise and cardio fitness.
How Do You Measure Heart and Brain Health?
There is a thing that we call a “dose-response,” meaning the more you improve your cardiovascular health, the more effects you see on cognitive function. This kind of understanding means that exercise is doing something to your body, muscles, and heart, which is then talking to the brain.
I think the most important thing to know is that it is all connected, especially from a researcher’s standpoint. For neuroscientists, we have to think below the neck, and for those who work on an exercise that is more focused, maybe a muscle or heart, you have to consider above the neck also to bring it together.
What Do You Do in Your Free Time Outside of Work/Research?
I am a big hiker; I love hiking in the beautiful New England area. Related to my research, everyone gets to pick their favorite cardiovascular exercise, and hiking would be my favorite one. I also like spending time with my family, especially outdoors.
I also read a lot, whether traditional books, e-books or audiobooks. I always have been a voracious reader. Most recently I have been reading many science biographies. I just read the book Moonshot: Inside Pfizer’s Nine-Month Race to Make the Impossible Possible, which is about how they developed the COVID-19 vaccine, which to me is very exciting and interesting.
About the Mass General Research Institute
Massachusetts General Hospital is home to the largest hospital-based research program in the United States. Our researchers work side-by-side with physicians to develop innovative new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent disease.
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