Tinna Traustadottir  

 

 

  

Assistant Professor 

Phone: 928-523-7291
Email: tinna.traustadottir@nau.edu
Office: Peterson Hall, bldg. 22  room 205 

Research/teaching interests

• Aging and exercise physiology
• Oxidative stress, neuroendocrinology, muscle physiology

Academic highlights

• PhD, Arizona State University, Exercise Physiology - 2003
• MS, Arizona State University, Exercise Physiology - 1998
• BS, University of Vermont, Physical Education/Athletic Training - 1990

 My main interest is in prevention of age-related disease and the promotion of successful aging. The research in my laboratory focuses on the role of exercise (and nutrition) in modifying stress resilience, measured by using physiological and/or psychosocial stressors to challenge the system and assessing the physiological response to the challenge. Increased stress resilience translates to greater protection against diseases and chronic conditions associated with aging and sedentary lifestyle. My recent studies focus primarily on oxidative stress and modification of the capacity to resist oxidative damage. The long-term goal of my research is to determine the role of oxidative stress in the aging process; in particular whether a regular exercise program results in systemic changes in the capacity to resist oxidative stress in previously sedentary individuals. The mission of my laboratory is to enhance the understanding of the interaction between exercise, antioxidants, and biomarkers of aging and age-related diseases, using a clinical approach. Successful interventions can be further developed as preventive medicine and have the potential to improve the health and quality of life of the aging population.   

Selected publications

 

Traustadóttir T, Davies SS, Su Y, Choi L, Brown-Borg, HM, Roberts LJ, Harman SM. Oxidative Stress in Older Adults: Effects of Physical Fitness. AGE 2011, 33: [E-pub ahead of print]. 

Traustadóttir T and Tsitouras PT. The role of exercise and dietary supplements in the management of type 2 diabetes. Clinical Geriatrics 2010, 18(10):22-27.

Traustadóttir T, Davies SS, Stock AA, Su Y, Heward CB, Roberts LJ, Harman SM. Tart cherry juice decreases oxidative stress in healthy older men and women. J Nutrition 2009, 139(10):1896-1900.

Davies SS, Traustadóttir T, Stock AA, Ye F, Shyr Y, Harman SM, Roberts, LJ. Mild forearm Ischemia Reperfusion unveils a diminished capacity of older adults to constrain an oxidative insult.   Free Radical Biology and Medicine 2009, 47(7):1014-1018.

Traustadóttir T and Tsitouras PT. Prescribing exercise for older men. Clinical Geriatrics 2009, 17(7):42-47.

Bosch PR, Traustadóttir T, Howard P, Matt KS. Functional and Physiological Effects of Yoga in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Pilot Study. Alt Therapies in Health and Medicine 2009, 15(4):24-31.

Traustadóttir T, Stock AA, Harman SM. Statin use does not impair aerobic capacity or skeletal muscle function in older adults. AGE 2008, 30(4):283-291.

Traustadóttir T, Bosch PR, Matt KS. The HPA axis response to stress in women: Effects of aging and fitness. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2005, 30(4):392-402.

Reaven PD, Traustadóttir T, Brennan, J, Nader, PR. Cardiovascular risk factors associated with insulin resistance in children persist into late adolescence. Diabetes Care 2005, 28(1):148-150.

Traustadóttir T, Bosch PR, Cantu T, Matt KS. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis response and recovery from high intensity exercise in women: Effects of aging and fitness.  J Clin Endocrin Metab 2004, 89(7):3248-3254.

Traustadóttir T, Bosch PR, Matt KS. Gender differences in cardiovascular and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis responses to psychological stress in healthy older adult men and women. Stress 2003, 6(2):133-140.

Book chapters: 

Traustadóttir T and Davies SS. Oxidative insult after ischemia/reperfusion in older adults.   In: Agarwal A, Rizk B, Aziz N, eds. Oxidative Stress and Women’s Health. New York, NY:Humana Press. [in press]