Deborah O’leary
Professor
Health Sciences
Brock University
Canada
Biography
My research focusses primarily on cardiovascular health throughout the lifespan. My interests include the effects of childhood growth and development and adult aging on the cardiovascular system. As well, my research focusses on the detrimental impact of cardiovascular risk factors throughout the lifespan and the beneficial role that exercise plays at any age on cardiovascular health. I am also Director of the Brock-Niagara Centre for Health and Well-Being. This facility serves as both a research and community-based exercise centre for individuals in Niagara. The Centre currently has exercise programs for healthy seniors (SeniorFit), individuals with cardiovascular disease (Heart Strong), spinal cord injury and multiple sclerosis (Power Cord) and amputees (Brock T.E.A.M.).
Research Interest
The role of childhood growth and development on indices of cardiovascular health; The effects of childhood obesity and hypertension on blood pressure regulation, arterial health and left ventricular hypertrophy; The link between adverse childhood experiences and cardiovascular health; The beneficial effect of isometric handgrip training on cardiovascular and cognitive health in those suffering from hypertension
Publications
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Coverdale NS, Fitzgibbon LK, Reid GJ, Wade TJ, Cairney J, and O’Leary DD. Baroreflex sensitivity is associated with sleep-related breathing problems in adolescents. J Pediatr 160: 610-614, 2012.
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Fitzgibbon L, Coverdale N, Phillips A, Shoemaker JK, Klentrou P, Wade T, Cairney J, and O’Leary DD. The association between blood pressure and baroreflex sensitivity in children. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 37: 301-307, 2012.
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Ludwa IA, O’Leary DD, Wade TJ, Cairney J, Falk B, and Klentrou P. The effect of adiposity on the relationship between indicators of maturity in peri-pubertal children. Ann Hum Biol 40: 70-74, 2013.
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Phillips AA, and O’Leary DD. Letter by Phillips and O’Leary regarding article, Systemic and pulmonary vascular dysfunction in children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies. Circ 127(9): e476, 2013.
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Pretty C, O’Leary DD, Cairney J, and Wade T. Adverse childhood experiences and the cardiovascular health of children: a cross-sectional study. BMC Pediatr doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-208, 2013
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Chirico D, Wade TJ, Cairney J, Klentrou P, and O’Leary DD. Evidence of a hyperkinetic state in children with elevated blood pressure. Ann Hum Biol doi:10.3109/03014460.2014.940064, 2014.
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Phillips AA, Chirico D, Coverdale NS, Fitzgibbon LK, Shoemaker JK, Wade TJ, Cariney J, and O’Leary DD. The association between arterial properties and blood pressure in children. Appl Physiol Nutri Metab 40: 72-78, 2014.
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Chirico D, Liu J, Klentrou P, Shoemaker JK, and O’Leary DD. Examining the effects of sex and pubertal maturation on cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity. J Peds 167(5): 1067-1073, 2015.
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Hartley GL, Watson CL, Ainslie PN, Tokuno CD, Greenway MJ, Gabriel D, O’Leary DD, and Cheung S. Corticospinal excitability is associated with hypocapnia but not changes in cerebral blood flow. J Physiol 594(12): 3423-3437, 2016.
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Sharif H, Allison D, O’Leary D, and Ditor D. Reproducibility of the QT-variability index in individuals with spinal cord injury. Auton Neurosci 195: 16-19, 2016.
