Teresa Liu-Ambrose

Dr. Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD, PT, Associate Professor, is a Canada Research Chair and a physical therapist at the University of British Columbia, Department of Physical Therapy. She directs the Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory (http://cogmob.rehab.med.ubc.ca) as well as the Vancouver General Hospital’s Falls Prevention Clinic (http://fallclinic.com).

Her research program focuses on defining the role of exercise to promote healthy aging, with a particular focus on cognitive and neural plasticity, as well as mobility. Various method are utilized, including randomized controlled trials, functional neuroimaging, and actigraphy,

Dr. Liu-Ambrose works collaboratively with faculty in Psychology, Neurology, Family Practice, Geriatric Medicine, and Health Care and Epidemiology. Dr. Liu-Ambrose is an investigator with the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility and the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health. She also co-leads the UBC data collection site for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

For more information on The Aging, Mobility and Cognitive Function Lab, please visit: http://cogmob.rehab.med.ubc.ca.

Training Opportunities:
Dr. Liu-Ambrose is currently accepting graduate students and post-doctoral fellows with a strong background in psychology, kinesiology, neurosciences, or computer sciences.It is highly recommended that potential trainees apply for all possible external sources of funding (e.g., MSFHR, CIHR) and contact Dr. Liu-Ambrose well in advance to these funding deadlines.Interested? Forward the following information to Dr. Liu-Ambrose:

• An updated CV
• Unofficial transcripts
• A one-page letter outlining your research experience and goals

Selected Publications
1.      Bolandzadeh N, LIU-AMBROSE T, Aizenstein H, Harris T, Launer L, Yaffe K, Kritchevsky SB, Newman A, Rosano C. Pathways Linking Focal Hyperintensities in the Brain and Slower Gait. Neuroimage, 2014; 99:7-13.

2.      Best JR, Nagamatsu LS, LIU-AMBROSE T. Improvements to executive function during resistance training predict maintenance of physical activity over the following year. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 2014;8:353.

3.      ten Brinke LF, Bolandzadeh N, Nagamatsu LS, Hsu CL, Davis JC, Khan KM, LIU-AMBROSE T. Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume in older women with probable mild cognitive impairment: A 6-month randomized controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014 Apr 7. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-093184. [Epub ahead of print]

4.      Nagamatsu LS, Handy, TC, Hsu CL, Voss M, LIU-AMBROSE T. Resistance training improves cognitive and functional brain plasticity in seniors with probable MCI: A 6-month randomized controlled trial. JAMA Internal Medicine, 2012; 172(8): 666-8.

5.      Voss M, Nagamatsu LS, LIU-AMBROSE T, Kramer AF. Exercise, brain, and cognition across the lifespan. Journal of Applied Physiology, 2011; Apr 29. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21527670.

6.      LIU-AMBROSE T, Nagamatsu LS, Voss M, Khan KM, Handy TC. Resistance training and cortical plasticity. Neurobiology of Aging, 2011; July 6. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 21741129.

7.      LIU-AMBROSE T, Nagamatsu LS, Graf P, Beattie BL, Ashe MC, Handy TC. Resistance training and executive functions: A 12-month randomized controlled trial. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2010; 170: 170-178.

• UBC Co-Lead for the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ageing
• Associate Editorial Board Member for the British Journal of Sports Medicine
• Editorial Board Member for Physical Therapy
• Member of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association
• Member of the Physical Therapy Association of BC