Currently, I am a Postdoctoral Researcher at The Neuro Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital (MNI), at McGill University. Recently, I completed my Ph.D. at Dalhousie University in the Medical Neuroscience program studying under Dr. Tomas Hajek. Previously, I completed my M.Sc. at Wilfrid Laurier University in Behavioural Neuroscience. I received my B.A. in Honours Psychology with a minor in Classical Studies from the University of Waterloo. Ardent about research and statistical analysis, it is my hope that I can share some of my enthusiasm with others.
Current Research Interests
My main research interests involve how conditions of metabolism like obesity and diabetes affect the brain. Obesity has become a global public health issue, where according to the World Health Organization, 39% of adults were considered overweight, and 13% of adults were considered obese in 2016. Statistics Canada found that in Canada, 63.1% of the population were overweight or obese in 2018. Serious health conditions are linked to obesity, as it is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disorders. Lesser studied areas include impacts on the brain in gray and white matter.
My Ph.D. investigated the impact of obesity and diabetes on brain white matter microstructure: the axon bundles of neurons or areas of the brain responsible for connecting/conveying information between brain regions. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to image white matter microstructure, we were able to answer the questions surrounding where and to what extent obesity and diabetes leave their mark in the brain in the general population and in bipolar disorders.
Lorielle Dietze 