Maj-Brit Åström

Primary fields of research

Attentional functions in children with ADHD - Cognitiv testing of attention (especially Theory of Visual Attention, TVA -based testing) and biomarkers (especially Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, BDNF)

Current research

Phd project dealing with the cognitive profile of children with ADHD and association between ADHD and biomarkers. Special focus on visual attention and Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and cortisol. 

Fields of interest

ADHD - Cognitive testing - biomarkers - The influence of exercise on brain function.

Knowledge of languages

Danish, English

CV

CURRICULUM VITAE

Maj-Brit Åström – 18.09.1977

Education:
2007:  Bachelor of Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
2010:  Medical Doctor, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
01.05.2014 – Present: Ph.d-student, Department of Psychology, Center for Visual Cognition/ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Bispebjerg Hospital.

Professional experience:
01.09.05 – 01.01.06: Scolarship/Research Fellow granted by the Research Council for Medical Sciences (Forskningsrådet for Sundhed og Sygdom) for the study of how physical activity affects the Brain Derived Neuro Tropic Factor (BDNF ) levels in humans. (1 year and 4 month)
Conducted at:
Professor Bente Klarlund Pedersen
Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism (CIM)
Department of Infectious Diseases and CMRC , Rigshospitalet 7641, the University of Copenhagen.

01.01.09 – 01.08.09: Medical locum at Department of Cardiology/Endocrinology,
                                  Hillerød Hosppital. (2 months)
04.01.10 – 01.01.12: Registrar at Department F of Internal Medicine,
                                  Gentofte Hospital. (3 months as well as maternity leave)
01.01.12 – 01.07.12: Registrar at Department of Psychiatry,
                                  Gentofte hospital (6 months)
01.07.12 – 01.01.13: Registrar at Department F of Internal Medicine,
                                  Gentofte Hospital. (6 months) 
15.01.13 – 01.09.13: Introductory position at Department of Clinical Genetics,
                                  Rigshospitalet. (7½ months)
01.09.13 – 01.05.14: Introductory position at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
                                     the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic B193, Bispebjerg Hospital ( 4 months - ) 

Courses:
31.01.06 – 01.09.06: AMBEHR (Academy of Muscle Biology, Exercise and Health Research): Physiological working methods. (2 days)

17.08.09 – 20.08.09 : The Danish Psychiatric Society's Summer School. Copenhagen (5 days)

Aug. 12:    Proficiency Course in acute paediatrics, organized by Young Paediatricians. Odense (8 hours)

Nov. 12:   The Danish Medical Association’s acute course in paediatrics. Copenhagen (7 hours)

03.10.13 – 04.10.13: Introductory course on acute psychiatry, psychotic disorders, antipsychotic treatment and on the Danish Mental Health Act.Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Glostrup. (2days)

28.10.13 – 29.10.13: Introductory course on ADHD, Autism spectrum disorders, Tourette and Tics, conduct disorders, neuropsychological aspects of neuropsychiatric conditions in children, infants and toddlers  psychiatry. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Odense. (2 days)

27.01.14 – 28.01.14: Basic course on Psychotherapy.

25.02.14 – 26.02.14: Introductory course on Psychotherapy, Related disorders, Personality disorders, Play observation. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen.

23.05.14 - 26.05.2014: Course on the K-SADS (Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia) interview. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Copenhagen.

10.06.14 - 11.06.14: Theory of Visual Attention (TVA) Bootcamp. Department of Psychology, Copenhagen.

22.09.14 - 26.09.14: Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance (DRCMR). Course on linking magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to neuroanatomy of the human brain.

Oral communications
31.08.06 – 01.09.06: Chairman at the annual Academy of Muscle Biology, Exercise and Health Research (AMBEHR) Symposium in Roskilde: Opportunities and future prospects for young researchers.

May 07: Association of Young Scientists (Foreningen af Yngre Forskere, FYF), Rigshospitalet. Lecture and poster competition. Oral presentation: The BDNF response to exercise. Third prize.

June 07: The Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre (CMRC) summer seminar. Oral præsentation: How does BDNF influence muscles and brain circuits and how does exercise influence BDNF.

Oct. 07: European Students Conference, ESC. Charite, Virchow Klinikum, Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. Oral presentation: The Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) response to exercise and impact of BDNF on learning and neurodegenerative diseases.

Meetings and conferences
31.07.06 – 01.09.06: Responsible for the planning and organization of the annual Academy of Muscle Biology, Exercise and Health Research (AMBEHR) symposium.

01.09.05 – 31.12.06: Youngster representative for the Center of Inflammation and Metabolism (CIM) in The Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre (CMRC) network. (1 year and 4 months)

04.12.13: Participant at the Psychiatric research day at Rigshospitalet.

19.11.14: Participant at the Psychiatric research day at Rigshospitalet.

11.10.14 -16.10.14: World Congress of Psychiatric genetics

Honours and awards

May 07: Association of Young Scientists, Rigshospitalet. Lecture and poster competition. Oral presentation: The BDNF response to exercise. Third prize.

March 08: OSVAL II price. Written and oral: Physical activity and Brain Derived Neuro Tropic Factor (BDNF) and BDNF´s role in neurodegenerative diseases, learning and memory.

Publications:
Åstrøm M, Krabbe K, Frydelund L, Åkerstrøm T, Bruunsgaard H, Klarlund-Pedersen B. The BDNF response to exercise. European Journal Of Medical Research 2007; (12): 102.

Ole Hartvig Mortensen, Kasper Andersen, Christian Fischer, Maj-Brit Aastrøm, Anders Rinnov Nielsen, Søren Nielsen, Thorbjörn Akerström, Rehannah Borup, and Bente Klarlund Pedersen.
Calprotectin is released from human skeletal muscle tissue during exercise. J Physiol. 2008 Jul 15; 586(14): 3551-62.

*Maj-Brit Åström, *Vance B. Matthews, Karen S. Krabbe, Lone Frydelund-Larsen, Clinton R. Bruce, Oja Prelovsek, Thorbjörn Åkerström, M.H. Stanley Chan, Christina Yfanti, Christa Broholm, Ole H. Mortensen, Milena Penkowa, Helle Bruunsgaard, Bente K. Pedersen , and Mark A. Febbraio. *These authors contributed equally to this study.
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor is produced by skeletal muscle cells in response to contraction and enhances fat oxidation via activation of AMPK.
Diabetologia, 2009 Jul; 52(7): 1409-1418.

Maj-Brit Åström, Michael Feigh and Bente Klarlund Pedersen.
Persistent low-grade inflammation and regular exercise.
Front Biosci. 2010 Jan 1; 2:96-105.