Physiological changes throughout menopause

The risk of heart disease in women is underestimated, however once women enter menopause there is a large increase in disease risk, with heart disease accounting for ~75% of deaths in postmenopausal women. However, the full bodily changes that women experience during, and in the time after menopause is not understood. Additionally, it is well-known that exercise is effective in preventing mortality, however whether exercise can reduce negative changes that occur in menopause is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to understand both the physiological changes that women experience during menopause, and the influence of exercise. This study will recruit 200 women and include measures of muscle, brain, cardiovascular, and arterial health before beginning menopause, at the onset of menopause, and three years following menopause. This ongoing research study is led by Dr. Hellsten, an established researcher in the field of cardiovascular physiology and the head of the August Krogh Section for Human Physiology at the University of Copenhagen. Dr. Hellsten explores techniques that are closely related to, but distinctive from those in my PhD studies at McMaster, therefore I will be able to apply these skills to future work in my home laboratory, at McMaster.

Faculty Supervisor:

Maureen MacDonald

Student:

Partner:

University of Copenhagen

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

McMaster University

Program: