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The brain is an elusive organ, endlessly complex and yet always fascinating. While the brain might seemingly tell the whole body what to do, this communication is actually two-way. Come learn about the the direct line your gut has to the brain and how microscopic campers in the gut might influence your mood and your overall health. Join us at the Roundy at 7pm to learn more.
Sex Matters! The Role of Gut Microbes in Women's Mental Health
Amiee Cronin
(PhD Student, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC)
Women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, yet 80% of neuroscience studies exclude females. This increased vulnerability emerges in adolescence, when sex differences emerge in gut microbiota composition, and persists into adulthood. My research examines how the gut microbiota can be harnessed to reduce this vulnerability in periods of hormonal change; including puberty and postpartum.

Teamwork for Your Brain: Harnessing Gut Microbes through Lifestyle Changes
Zoë Williams
(PhD Student, UCC and APC Microbiome Ireland)
Every 3 seconds someone is diagnosed with dementia, but 45% of these cases may be preventable. Today’s talk will explore how exercise could help, perhaps by teaming up with our gut microbes!

Alzheimer's hidden players: Glia, gut microbes, and sex hormones
Andrew Octavian Sasmita
(Postdoctoral researcher, Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC)
Which cell types in the brain are involved in Alzheimer's disease, why women are likelier to develop it, and how our gut microbiome could be involved in a disease with over 100 years of history.

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