Darren Beck
Research Interests
My early research focused on the beneficial effects of adjuvant therapies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease in clinical and pre-clinical populations concentrating on endothelial function/dysfunction and arterial stiffness on blood flow mechanics, myocardial oxygen demand, and left-ventricular wasted energy. To expand my research in aging and cardiovascular disease, I then focused on the differential effects of androgens and estrogens, specifically, testosterone replacement therapy in older hypogonadal males and the progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia, bone metabolism, and risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
Currently, my research focuses on the role of hormone dysregulation and the development of cognitive decline associated with aging and the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), related pathology and novel adjuvant therapies to prevent the progression of vascular disease associated with aging and the development of AD. Current projects include, ‘Regulation of Luteinizing Hormone to Prevent Cognitive Decline of Reproductive Senescence and Alzheimer’s Disease’, ‘Neurophysiological effects of whole coffee fruit concentrate in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A fMRI Investigation’ and ‘Extra-virgin olive oil prevents MCI conversion to Alzheimer’s disease’. In addition, I continue to investigate the molecular environment of the prostate and the development of cancers. To this end, current collaborative projects include, ‘High-density lipoprotein cholesterol nanoparticle mimic for the early detection and treatment of prostate cancer’, ‘Novel engineered nanoparticle based drug delivery and biosensing assay system for in vivo prostate cancer treatment and monitoring’, and ‘Iatrogenic cardiac and skeletal muscle metabolic dysfunction in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy and radiation treatment’
