Correne A. DeCarlo

Program affiliation: Clinical psychology

Research Supervisors: Dr. Stuart MacDonald, Dr. Holly Tuokko

Clinical Supervisor: Dr. Mauricio Garcia-Barrera

Research interests

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is an incurable, neurological disorder that is a leading cause of death of adults in North America. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered a high-risk condition for progression to AD. Chronological age (CA) is an inaccurate predictor of dementia risk and it offers little insight into the causal mechanisms underlying cognitive decline. In contrast, biological age (BioAge), indexed by markers reflecting critical biological processes, may more accurately account for late-life development. Indices of BioAge, typically comprised of physiological function (e.g., grip strength, lung capacity), are associated with age-related changes in cognitive function. Despite their current use, BioAge models have yet to incorporate major causal (e.g. inflammatory pathways) and contributing (e.g., stress, sedentary lifestyle, etc.) factors linked to dementia risk. For my PhD research, I am interested in developing multivariate BioAge models that incorporate key risk factors (e.g., molecular, physiological and environmental) related to cognitive impairment to accurately identify those at risk for age-related cognitive decline at early disease phases. Early identification of dementia risk would facilitate the early implementation of intervention strategies. Multi-domain interventions targeting the control of AD risk factors are expected to be a cost-effective way to reduce the risk or postpone disease onset.

Degrees

PhD Clinical Psychology (Neuropsychology) 2010- current
MSc Biology (Molecular Immunology) 2006-2008
BScH Biology (Neurobiology) 2001-2005

Awards

2011-2012 W.H. Gaddes Scholarship
2010-2011 Rotary Club of Saanich Scholarship
2010-2011 Erich and Shelley Mohr Fellowship in Psychology
2010 University of Victoria Fellowship (PhD)
2007 Ontario Graduate Scholarship
2007 National Cancer Institute of Canada – Canadian Cancer Research Conference
2007 National Institute of Health (NIH) – training award, 24th Annual Intl Papillomavirus Conference
2007 Graduate Award of Merit – Department of Biology, Lakehead University
2007 Doris K. Adams, research at the Northwestern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre
2006 Special Entrance Scholarship – Lakehead University
2006 Outstanding Volunteer Award – Canadian Diabetes Association
2005 Excellence in Research Award – 8th Annual Meeting for Health Science Research Trainees
2005 Advocacy and Education Award – Canadian Diabetes Association

Refereed Published Articles

DeCarlo, C.A., Tuokko, H.T., Dixon, R.A., & MacDonald, S.W.S. (2011). BioAge: A Multivariate Process Account of Cognitive Aging. (article in preparation)

MacDonald, S.W.S, DeCarlo, C.A., & Dixon, R.A. (2011). Linking biological and cognitive aging: towards improving characterizations of developmental time. Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences, 66(S1), 59-70.

DeCarlo, C.A., Rosa, B., Jackson, R., Niccoli, S., Escott, N.G., & Zehbe, I. (2011). Toll-like receptor transcriptome in the HPV-related cervical microenvironment. Clinical and Developmental Immunology, doi: doi:10.1155/2012/785825.

Werner, J., DeCarlo, C.A., Escott, N.G., Zehbe, I., & Ulanova, M. (2011). Expression of integrins and Toll-like receptors in cervical cancer: effect of infectious agents, Journal of Innate Immunity, doi: 10.1177/1753425910392934.

DeCarlo, C.A., Severini, A., Edler, L., Escott, N.G., Lambert, P.F., Ulanova, M., & Zehbe, I. (2010). IFN-k, a novel type I IFN, is undetectable in HPV-positive human cervical keratinocytes. Laboratory Investigation, 90(10): 1482-91.

Zehbe, I., Richard, C., DeCarlo, C.A., Shai, A., Lambert P.F., Lichtig, H., Tommasino, M., & Sherman, L. (2009). Human papillomavirus 16 E6 variants differ in their dysregulation of human keratinocyte differentiation and apoptosis. Virology, 383(1), 69-77.

DeCarlo, C.A., Escott, N.G., Werner, J., Robinson, K., Lambert P.F., Law, R.D., & Zehbe, I. (2008). Gene expression analysis of interferon kappa in laser capture microdissected cervical epithelium. Analytical Biochemistry, 381(1), 59-66.

Money, T.G.A., DeCarlo, C.A., & Robertson, R.M. (2006). Temperature-sensitive gating in a descending visual interneuron, DCMD. Journal of Comparative Physiology A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neurol and Behavioral Physiology, 192(9), 915-25.

Conference Presentations

DeCarlo, C.A., Vergote, D., MacDonald, S.W.S, Whitehead, B.P., Westaway, D., Jhamandas, J., & Dixon, R.A. (2012, July). Genetic markers of cognitive status and stability in the Victoria Longitudinal Study. Poster to be presented at the Biennial Meeting of the International Society for the Study of Behavioural Development, Edmonton, AB. (Submitted abstract)

DeCarlo, C.A., Love, J.A., Hultsch, D.F., & MacDonald, S.W.S. (2010, December). Successful aging: multi-causal influences of functionality. Poster session presented at the Canadian Association of Gerontology, Montreal, QC.

DeCarlo, C.A., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. (2010, April). Revisiting Birren’s BioAge: linking biological and cognitive processes in the Victoria Longitudinal Study. Poster presented at the Cognitive Aging Conference, Atlanta, GA.

DeCarlo, C.A., MacDonald S.W.S. & Dixon, R.A. (2010, February). Beyond chronological age: a multi-causal conceptualization of development. Poster presented at the Centre on Aging Community Forum, Victoria, BC. (Invited Presentation)

DeCarlo, C.A., MacDonald, S.W.S., & Dixon, R.A. (2009, November). Beyond chronological age: a multi-causal conceptualization of development. Poster presented at Cognition, Health & Aging: Integrating Cross-Disciplinary Perspectives, Penn State, PA.

DeCarlo, C.A., Escott, N.G., Werner, J., Richard, C., Robinson, K., Ulanova, M. & Zehbe, I. (2008, April). IFN-k mRNA levels in ex vivo HPV-associated cervical tissue. Poster presented at the Lakehead University Science and Engineering Symposium, Thunder Bay, ON.

DeCarlo, C.A., Escott, N.G., Werner, J., Richard, C., Robinson, K., Ulanova, M., & Zehbe, I. (2007, November). Expression of a novel type I interferon in human papillomavirus-related cervical disease. Poster presented at the 24th Annual International Papillomavirus Conference, Beijing, China.

DeCarlo, C.A., Zehbe, I., Escott, N.G., Ulanova, M. (2007, September). Integrin receptors as potential therapeutic targets in cervical cancer. Poster presented at the 2nd Annual Biotechnology Symposium, Thunder Bay, ON.

Money, T.G.A., DeCarlo, C.A., & Robertson, R.M. (2008, May). Temperature-sensitive gating in a descending visual interneuron (DCMD). Proceedings from the Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC.

Money, T.G.A., DeCarlo, C.A., & Robertson, R.M. (2005, May). Temperature-sensitive fating in a visual interneuron (DCMD). Poster presented at the 8th Annual Meeting for Health Science Research Trainees, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON.