About
Dr Sarah Aldred describes herself as a skilled, enthusiastic and resourceful scientist. She is an expert in the field of oxidative stress, and has been researching chronic diseases of ageing associated with oxidative stress for more than 10 years.
Qualifications
BSc (hons) Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry (University of Hull)
MSc Toxicology (University of Birmingham)
PhD Biochemistry (University of Birmingham)
Biography
Sarah joined the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences in October 2003 in order to develop her research interests in oxidative stress within a thriving Sport Sciences department. Originally from Yorkshire, Sarah studied at the Universities of Hull and Birmingham, before undertaking postdoctoral research at Aston University.
Sarah's main research interests continue to lie in mechanisms of disease associated with oxidative stress, in particular within diseases associated with the ageing process, such as Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and cardiovascular disease. Sarah also has active research interests in exercise in healthy ageing.
Sarah's research group comprises postgraduate research students and final year dissertation students and Sarah is herself still actively involved in lab research.
Teaching
Sarah is module organiser of the third year module 'oxidative stress in health and disease' and contributes to a number of other modules on the BSc Sport and Exercise Sciences and the BMedSci courses.
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Biochemistry and Cell Physiology (2004- )
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Adaptations to exercise (2006- )
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Exercise Metabolism (2008- )
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Laboratory module (2007- )
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BMedSci Biology of Ageing (2009- )
Postgraduate supervision
Four PhD students (three completed, one first year), Two Masters students (MSc toxicology summer projects, 2005, 2007)
PhD students completed projects
Oxidative stress in ageing (2009). M.S. Rohalu.
Associated publications:
Aldred S, and Rohalu, M. (2011). A moderate intensity exercise program did not increase the oxidative stress in older adults. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. Jan 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Aldred S., Rohalu, M.S., Edwards, K.M., and Burns, V.E. (2009) Altered DHEA and DHEAS response to exercise in healthy older adults. JAPA. 17(1):77-88.
Oxidative stress biomarkers in dementia (2011). S.J. Bennett.
Associated publications:
Aldred S, Bennett S, Mecocci P. (2010) Increased low-density lipoprotein oxidation, but not total plasma protein oxidation, in Alzheimer's disease. Clinical Biochemistry. Feb;43(3):267-71. Epub 2009 Sep 4.
Bennett, S., Grant, M.M., and Aldred, S. (2009) Oxidative stress in Vascular dementia & Alzheimer’s disease; a common pathology. JAD. 17. 245-257.
Markers of immunosenescence and oxidative stress in healthy adults (2011). J.E. Turner.
Associated publications:
Turner, J.E, Hodges, N.J, Bosch, J.A, and Aldred, S. (2011). Prolonged depletion of antioxidant capacity following ultra-endurance exercise. MSSE. In press.
Turner JE, Aldred S, Witard O, Drayson MT, Moss PM, Bosch JA. (2010). Latent Cytomegalovirus infection amplifies CD8 T-lymphocyte mobilisation and egress in response to exercise. Brain Behav Immun. Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Research
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Exercise Biochemistry
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Lipoprotein oxidation
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Ageing, including atherosclerosis and dementia
Sarah’s research interests focus on mechanisms of disease associated with oxidative stress. In particular within diseases associated with the ageing process, such as Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and cardiovascular disease. Sarah’s research aims to determine the effects of exercise on disease process.
Since joining the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences in 2003, she has worked to link her previous research experience in biochemical mechanisms of disease with research within a thriving Sport Sciences department. Sarah has continued to research oxidatively modified proteins in chronic diseases associated with ageing – initiating research into the effect of exercise on these species in older adults and dementia sufferers.
Since 2008 Sarah has developed a unique area of research investigating exercise effects on Alzheimer’s disease pathology, which is respected both nationally and internationally. This research has lead to prestigious invitations to be part of expert panels, steering committees for exercise interventions, and to lead research for the Alzheimer’s Research UK in the Midlands (www.le.ac.uk/ge/alzheimer). The Midlands network is part of the wider Alzheimer's Research UK network.
Sarah’s research has recently been funded by the Alzheimer's Society to research oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease, and was recently the recipient of a SPARC award to look at the effect of exercise on lipoprotein oxidation in older adults. Sarah has presented her research at scientific conferences worldwide, and has talked about her research at a number of public meetings.
She was also recently invited to a panel of expert researchers to assess the effect of lifestyle on dementia, which led to a series of programmes for the BBC.
Other activities
Sarah is a member of a number of professional bodies to support her research including: The Biochemical Society; The American College of Sports Medicine, The Society of Toxicology, and European College of Sports Science. Sarah is also a member of the Alzheimer’s Society and has given a number of talks at the Alzheimer’s society Quality Research in Dementia public meetings, and the Alzheimer’s Research Trust public awareness events. Sarah has also presented her work at the British Science Festival.
Sarah is an active citizen of the University. She is Head of Education in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences and is a member of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences learning and teaching committees. She has held several administrative positions within the School during her appointment.
Publications
Turner, J.E, Hodges, N.J, Bosch, J.A, and Aldred, S. (2011). Prolonged depletion of antioxidant capacity following ultra-endurance exercise. MSSE. In press.
Aldred S, and Rohalu, M. (2011). A moderate intensity exercise program did not increase the oxidative stress in older adults. Arch. Gerontol. Geriatr. Jan 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Turner JE, Aldred S, Witard O, Drayson MT, Moss PM, Bosch JA. (2010). Latent Cytomegalovirus infection amplifies CD8 T-lymphocyte mobilisation and egress in response to exercise. Brain Behav Immun. Jul 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Aldred S, Bennett S, Mecocci P. (2010) Increased low-density lipoprotein oxidation, but not total plasma protein oxidation, in Alzheimer's disease. Clinical Biochemistry. Feb;43(3):267-71. Epub 2009 Sep 4.
Sarah Aldred and Patrizia Mecocci. (2010) Decreased dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate concentrations in plasma of Alzheimer’s disease patients. Arch Gerontol Geriatr. Jul-Aug;51(1):e16-8. Epub 2009 Aug 8
Ballard, C, Aarsland D, Aldred S, Bath P, Birks J, Brayne C, Kivipelto M, Richards M, Starr J, Smith D, and Kalaria R. (2010) Summary of the BBC dementia panel discussion. Alzheimers Society publications. Jan 2010.
Aldred S., Love,J.A., Tonks,L.A., Stephens,E., Jones, D.S., and Blannin,A.K. (2010) The effect of steady state exercise on circulating human IgE and IgG in young healthy volunteers with known allergy. JSAMS. Jan;13(1):16-9. Epub 2008 Oct 31.
Aldred S., Rohalu, M.S., Edwards, K.M., and Burns, V.E. (2009) Altered DHEA and DHEAS response to exercise in healthy older adults. JAPA. 17(1):77-88.
Bennett, S., Grant, M.M., and Aldred, S. (2009) Oxidative stress in Vascular dementia & Alzheimer’s disease; a common pathology. JAD. 17. 245-257.
S. McPhee, Hans Degen, Keith Baar, Joaquin Perez Schindler, Sarah Aldred, Alun G. Williams, and David A. Jones. (2009). The training stimulus experienced by the leg muscles during cycling in humans. Exp Physiol. 94(6):684-94
Aldred S.Oxidative and nitrative changes seen in lipoproteins following exercise (2007). Atherosclerosis. May.192(1):1-8.