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Profile – Amber Sewell-Green, University of Queensland

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11/12/2023

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Amber Sewell-Green

Name:

Amber Sewell-Green

Job Title:

PhD Candidate, Accredited Practicing Dietitian (APD)

Place of work / study:

University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Australia

Area of Research:

Improve Nutrition Care Guidelines for MND: Energy balance and the role of lipids in ALS.

How is your research funded:

Fight MND and MND Research Australia Grants for EATMND

Tell us a little about yourself:

I always knew you cannot treat the body without the mind. So in 2016 I completed my bachelor and masters in Dietetics with first class honours so I was equipped to use food as my medicine. Then I worked as a dietitian for 7 years in medical centres, private practice and teaching nutrition at community college. Then in 2020, I studied a diploma of neuroscience with a minor in psychopathology with the hope to begin my journey as an expert in nutrition and psychology for the brain and habit change. I also opened my online nutrition and mental health clinic “The Green Mind Co” in September 2022, shortly before commencing my PhD in improved nutrition care guidelines for MND in January 2023.

My project is called MINDE in MND: Metabolism, Individualised Nutrition and Daily Eating In MND, under the MEND MND umbrella at the University of Queensland School of Biomedical Science.

Tell us a fun fact about yourself:

I have been salsa dancing for 7 years, and competed on stage. It’s my joy and passion.

Why did you choose to work in Dementia?

Not dementia per although there is an MND-FTD spectrum. There is a lot of research around the MIND diet and Mediterranean for Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimers Dementia showing that diet can improve functional outcomes and slow disease progression. We also know that the brain is one of the most energy intensive organs in the body comprising of just 2% of the body but using a massive 20% of daily energy needs. So I learnt that I’m in a unique position as a dietitian to determine the nutrition needed to ensure the health of mitochondria in the neurons of the brain to optimise energy and protect again neurodegeneration in diseases of ageing such as Dementia and Motor Neurone Disease

What single piece of advice would you give to an early career researcher?

Work as a team because collective intelligence, synergy and resources will get you further than protecting your intelligence with arrogance. Finally, focus on your values and the WHY you are doing the research rather than the end outcome, as being process focused rather than outcome focused will lead to greater resilience and satisfaction.