I have Ph.D. in Cellular Biology and postdoctoral training in cell biology and neuroscience. I published more than 50 papers in high-impact scientific journals, as well as reviews, book chapters and other publications. My research over the years closely links the mechanisms of neurodegeneration with poor diet and nutrition disturbing one-carbon metabolism, the major source of methyl groups for epigenetic modifications in the cell. The shortage of methyl groups abrogates gene expression that produces developmental abnormalities (neural tube defects) and in adult life – serious disorders such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.
Alongside my scientific career, I am likewise a lifelong practitioner of integrative nutrition. Combining my two passions, I recently published a book on the subject, “Why We Are What We Eat.”
The book details recent advances in understanding the interaction between the digestive, immune, and nervous systems and the role of symbiotic microorganisms in these relationships, critical for human physical and mental health.