01/03/2024
By Liam Fouhy

The Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, cordially invites you to a dissertation proposal by Liam Fouhy on "Understanding Psychosocial, Genetic, and Nutritional Risk Factors for Bone Health in Puerto Rican Older Adults."

Candidate Name: Liam Fouhy
Date: Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024
Time: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EST
Location: Health and Social Sciences 342 and via Zoom. Those interested in attending via Zoom should contact the Sc.D. Candidate Liam_Fouhy@student.uml.edu) at least 24 hours before the proposal defense to request.

Committee Members:

  • Committee Chair, Advisor, Sabrina Noel, Associate Professor of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, UMass Lowell
  • David Cornell, Professor of Physical Therapy and Kinesiology, UMass Lowell
  • Katherine Tucker, Distinguished Professor of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, UMass Lowell
  • Wenjun Li, Professor of Public Health, UMass Lowell
  • Chao-Qiang Lai, Molecular Biologist/ Geneticist, Tufts University

Abstract: 

Aim 1: To examine the relationship between psychophysiological stress and osteoporosis.

Aim 1a. To characterize the relationship between measures of psychosocial stress and mental health (PSS, STAI, CESD) and biological measures of stress (urinary epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, DHEAS).

Hypothesis: Clusters of participants based on quantitative measures of psychosocial stress will have higher measures of biological stress than those with less evidence of psychosocial stress.

Aim 1b. To determine the relationship between catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine) and glucocorticoids (cortisol) and bone mineral density (BMD) and OP.

Hypothesis: Participants with higher scores on stress questionnaires will have higher circulating concentrations of urinary stress markers.

Aim 2: To determine the relationship between biological stress (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol), BMD and OP and to examine potential mediation and/or effect modification of this relationship by dietary quality (DASH).

Hypothesis: Higher concentrations of biological stress markers will be associated with poorer bone outcomes (low BMD and OP) and dietary quality, as measured by DASH, will modify these relationships.

Aim 3: To identify novel genetic risk variants related to BMD and OP and to investigate interactions between genetic risk variants and dietary quality (DASH) among Puerto Rican adults.

Hypothesis: The genetic loci discovered in this GWAS will be related to BMD and OP in this population and this relationship will be modified by DASH.