Your research is about stress, tell us more.
I look at how stress affects ageing, and particularly how it affects our memory performance as we get older. For some people, stress can feed into worrying things such as brain fog, poor sleep, mental health problems and memory impairment. My research looks for biological signals that can tell us about how stress relates to a person’s experience of ageing.
Who are you involving in your research?
We are really fortunate in Ireland to have very large, rich studies of people over the age of 50. I use data and samples from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, which is led by Trinity College Dublin, and the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which is led by Queen’s University Belfast.
RM Block
The Troubles was obviously a stressful time for many people in Northern Ireland, and I’m looking at how people’s DNA has been tagged epigenetically and what that can tell us about their health behaviours and health.
What happens to our DNA when we are exposed to stress?
The genetic code we inherit from our parents remains the same throughout our lives. But our DNA gets tagged with chemicals called methyl groups that can affect how genes are turned on and off.
[ Dogs mirror human stress levels, Queen’s University study findsOpens in new window ]
These tags, or epigenetic modifications, change over time with age and exposure to factors including smoking, and I am looking at how trauma and stress affect these patterns.
What have you been finding in your studies?
We found that people who reported significant trauma in their lives tend to age faster biologically. We can see that at a molecular level through the tags on the DNA.
Why does this happen?
We think it is in part down to people turning to coping mechanisms such as smoking or drinking to deal with stress and trauma, and they may feel socially isolated or depressed.
So we want to encourage behaviours that are more supportive of health. And now that we are building this evidence, we can bring it to policymakers to encourage steps to help people.
You studied medicine – how did you become involved in research?
I practise as a psychiatrist at the NHS Trust in Belfast. I developed my research skills in the All-Ireland Irish Clinical Academic Training, or ICAT, Programme, which is for early-career clinicians including medical doctors, dentists and vets.
I started it in 2019 with a preparatory year to plan out the project; then I hit the ground running with the PhD research on epigenetics in stress. ICAT is a really collaborative and supportive network.
As a clinician, what’s the benefit of incorporating research?
As clinicians, we work with patients and the public all the time and we can see where the unmet need is – patients can tell us directly. It’s really rewarding to know that your work can have impact for patients.
What do you love about research?
I love the variety, and how you get to talk to people who work in lots of other disciplines. I also got the opportunity to carry out research in Michigan for four months through a Fulbright scholarship. It is a challenge to balance the clinical workload with research, but it’s really fulfilling.
[ Canny canines can sniff out stress in humans, new research showsOpens in new window ]
Finally, how do you take a break from work?
I make sure I have time to spend with my family, to practise Pilates and to get out in the fresh air and exercise. With two small kids, life is busy, but our dog helps make sure I get out for walks.
Later this month, the ICAT Programme will celebrate the achievements of its fellows and alumni.
