MEMCARE Speaker Series: Dr. Nasser Zawia
Title: Developmental exposure to metals and nonmetals can reprogram gene expression and render the adult and aging brain susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases and disorders as revealed by: genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, biomarker and behavioral studies
Date: Monday, December 16, 2024, 3:00pm
Speaker: Nasser Zawia, Ph.D., Professor and Former Dean
Ryan Research Professor of Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, College of Pharmacy
Abstract: Our research culminated in the groundbreaking discovery that early life exposure to the heavy metal lead (Pb) produces Alzheimer’s like pathology later in life. This was the first experimental evidence that exposure to environmental toxins in early life can have delayed and disastrous consequences for the mature nervous system, an observation that has since informed our understanding of many CNS diseases and the unique enabling aspects of the brain. Our laboratory has shown that the environment is able to make specific changes to the epigenome – that are sustained for the life of the animal and manifest themselves in the aging brain rendering it susceptible to disease and cognitive decline. More recent studies by our group have extended these findings to no-metals (PFOS) thereby showing similarities and differences between the actions of metals and non-metals.
(Full title: Developmental exposure to metals (Pb) and nonmetals (PFAS) can reprogram gene expression and render the adult and aging brain susceptible to neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s) and disorders such ASD and ADHD as revealed by: genomic, epigenomic, proteomic, biomarker and behavioral studies)