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Dr Philippa Jackson
Role: Research Associate
Email: philippa.jackson@northumbria.ac.uk
Phone: 0191 227 4468
Room: NB 405
About
Philippa graduated from the University of Durham in 2003 with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. She joined Northumbria University in 2005 as a research assistant where she worked on a number of varied projects including investigations evaluating the effects of caffeine, Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, glucose and multivitamins on cognitive function and mood. In 2010 she completed her PhD and is now currently working on a 2-year post doc research project.
Research
Her PhD thesis focused on evaluating the cognitive and mood effects of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) in healthy individuals. Her findings indicate that peripheral fatty acid levels (reflective of n-3 PUFA intake) are associated with performance on a number of cognitive tasks, however short-term (2-3 months) supplementation with fish oil has little observable benefit on cognitive function in school-aged children or young adults (18-35 yrs) who do not habitually consume oily fish. Utilising Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), her final studies revealed that DHA-rich fish oil modulates cerebral haemodynamic response to cognitive tasks, which may have important implications as regards prophylactic treatment of age-related cerebral insufficiency. Her post doc project will therefore examine the cognitive, well-being and cerebral haemodynamic effects of a supplement containing DHA and other vitamins and plant extracts in older adults (50-70 yrs).
Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre
School of Psychology and Sport Sciences
4th Floor, Northumberland Building
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8ST
t: 44 (0) 191 2048818
e: bpnrc@northumbria.ac.uk
Members of
Nutrials
Medicinal Plant Research Group