21 May 2012

'Fit as a Fiddle - Ageing, Age-related disease, Diet and Exercise' - Café Science event on 28th May

The ageing process, and the impact of lifestyle on it, will be examined at the next Café Science event to take place in Dundee.

Dr Graham Rena, a lecturer at the University of Dundee's Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Medicine, will give an insight into current thinking on the issue when he delivers a talk, entitled 'Fit as a Fiddle - Ageing, Age-related disease, Diet and Exercise' at Chambers Coffee House and Restaurant on Monday, 28th May 2012.

"Why do we age, and why does ageing increase the risk of a variety of human diseases?" he asked. "I will be looking at why this trajectory is accelerated by metabolic disorders, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, and whether it will be possible in the future to defer age-related diseases, or whether it is all just down to inevitable wear and tear.

"We are always being encouraged to exercise more and eat a balanced diet in order to increase our chances of living a healthy and long life. The benefits of making such lifestyle choices are very clear, yet the biology underlying the links between lifestyle, ageing and age-related disease are much less well understood and are vigorous areas of research."

Café Science was launched in January 2008, and has attracted more than 3000 people since then. The monthly events are informal discussions led by leading local researchers from the Universities of Dundee and Abertay, James Hutton Institute and Dundee Science Centre that allow members of the public the opportunity to learn more about the ground-breaking science happening locally.

Dr Rena's talk takes place at Chambers, South Tay Street at 7pm on Monday, 28th May, and will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Entry is free and open to all, and while the event is not ticketed people are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Twitter users who can't make the event can follow the debate through the @revealsresearch account and using the hashtag #CafeSciDundee.

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277