Dr Sophia Amenyah
- samenyah at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
- http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7785-4336
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow
- BG504, Bournemouth Gateway Building
Biography
Dr Sophia D. Amenyah is a Registered Nutritionist, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Bournemouth University. She is an early-career member of the Ageing & Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) and the Research Centre for Seldom Heard Voices. Her research involves multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches to understand the determinants of nutrition and healthy ageing throughout the life course with specific focus on prevention of vascular diseases. She has expertise in epigenetics, realist synthesis & evaluation, systematic reviews & meta-analysis, nutrition assessment and research using quantitative methods. Her key research interests include healthy ageing, global nutrition, public health policies, nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition.
Sophia is currently the lead on the evaluation team of the European Regional Development Fund project, Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged REgions (ASPIRE). She is also principal investigator on 3 externally funded projects with focus on investigating inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing for older Black African adults in the UK and dementia prevention in minority ethnic communities...
Sophia is committed to co-production, inclusiveness and involving experts-by-experience in all stages of the research cycle ensuring research that translates into impactful policies. As part of this, she co-leads the ADRC Virtual Research Coffee Mornings, which brings together researchers, practitioners and the general public socially to share research. She is a Southwest England STEM Ambassador and collaborates with different organisations to deliver STEM activities for schools, the general public and to other initiatives promoting Public Engagement in Science. She contributes regularly to teaching on Nutrition modules at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
moreResearch
My current research is focused on reducing inequalities and improving healthy ageing in underserved communities. Current projects include: 1. Adding to Social capital and individual Potential In disadvantaged REgions (ASPIRE) (2020-2023). Funding: European Regional Development Fund. Role: Co-investigator
2. A novel approach to investigating inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing for older Black African adults in the UK (2023). Funding: UKRI (BBSRC/MRC) Food4Years Pump Priming award. Role: Principal investigator
3. The interconnection between lifestyle factors and dementia risk in minority ethnic communities in the UK(2022-2023). Funding: Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network pump priming grant. Role: Principal investigator
4. Healthy Brain Healthy Life (2022-2023). Funding: Alzheimer’s Research UK South Coast Network pump priming grant. Role: Principal investigator
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person's work contributes towards the following SDGs:
Zero hunger
"End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture"
Good health and well-being
"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages"
Journal Articles
- Amenyah, S.D., Waters, D., Tang, W., Fenge, L.A. and Murphy, J.L., 2022. Systematic realist synthesis of health-related and lifestyle interventions designed to decrease overweight, obesity and unemployment in adults. BMC Public Health, 22 (1).
- Dahodwala, H., Amenyah, S.D., Nicoletti, S., Henry, M.N., Lees-Murdock, D.J. and Sharfstein, S.T., 2022. Evaluation of site-specific methylation of the CMV promoter and its role in CHO cell productivity of a recombinant monoclonal antibody. Antibody Therapeutics, 5 (2), 121-129.
- Amenyah, S.D., Murphy, J. and Fenge, L.A., 2021. Evaluation of a health-related intervention to reduce overweight, obesity and increase employment in France and the United Kingdom: a mixed-methods realist evaluation protocol. BMC Public Health, 21 (1).
- Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2021. DNA methylation of hypertension-related genes and effect of riboflavin supplementation in adults stratified by genotype for the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. International Journal of Cardiology, 322, 233-239.
- Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2020. Influence of nutrients involved in one-carbon metabolism on DNA methylation in adults-a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 78 (8), 647-666.
- Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2020. Riboflavin supplementation alters global and gene-specific DNA methylation in adults with the MTHFR 677 TT genotype. Biochimie, 173, 17-26.
- Amenyah, S.D., Ward, M., Strain, J.J., McNulty, H., Hughes, C.F., Dollin, C., Walsh, C.P. and Lees-Murdock, D.J., 2020. Nutritional epigenomics and age-related disease. Current Developments in Nutrition, 4 (7), 1-16.
- Michels, N. and Amenyah, S.D., 2017. Body size ideals and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: role of media, lifestyle and well-being. Public Health, 146, 65-74.
- Amenyah, S.D. and Michels, N., 2016. Body size ideals, beliefs and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents: sociodemographic determinants and intercorrelations. Public Health, 139, 112-120.
Conferences
- Amenyah, S. et al., 2020. DNA methylation of hypertension-related genes is influenced by the MTHFR 677TT genotype and riboflavin supplementation. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 79 (OCE2), E237.
- Amenyah, S.D. et al., 2018. Epigenetic effects of riboflavin supplementation on hypertension in adults screened for the MTHFR C677 T polymorphism. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NUTRITION SOCIETY, 77 (OCE3), E62.
- Amenyah, S.D. and Michels, N., 2015. Role of diet, physical activity and media in body size and dissatisfaction in Ghanaian adolescents. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM, 67, 402.
Profile of Teaching PG
- Research Project (Dissertation)
- Nutrition for Brain and Mental Health
- Community Health and Wellbeing
- Contemporary Nutrition
Profile of Teaching UG
- Nutrition in Health and Disease
- Advances in Applied Nutrition
- Nutritional Requirements throughout Life
Grants
- A novel approach to investigating inequalities in nutrition and healthy ageing for older Black African adults in the UK. (UKRI Food4Years Pump Priming Award, 03 Jan 2023). Awarded
- The interconnection between lifestyle factors and dementia risk in minority ethnic communities in the UK (Alzheimer's Research UK, 01 Nov 2022). Awarded
- Healthy Brain Healthy Life (Alzheimer's Research UK, 02 May 2022). Awarded
Public Engagement & Outreach Activities
- Healthy Brain Healthy Life Project (02 May 2022-31 May 2023)
- Dementia Research Charity Chatathon - A Diet for the Brain & Measuring Quality of Life
- Bournemouth University Ageing and Dementia Research Centre (ADRC) Virtual Research Coffee Mornings.
- Key Speaker – Bournemouth University 2022 Online Public Lecture Series – Living better for longer: staying healthy in later life.
- Key speaker – Café Scientifique Highcliffe – BrainFit: healthy Eating for a Healthy Brain
Qualifications
- PhD in Nutrition and Genomics Medicine (Ulster University, 2020)
- MSc in Nutrition & Rural Development (Public Health Nutri (Ghent University, Belgium, 2015)
- BSc (Hons) in Nutrition and Food Science (University of Ghana, 2011)
Memberships
- American Society for Nutrition, Member, https://nutrition.org/
- Association for Nutrition, Member, https://www.associationfornutrition.org/
- The Nutrition Society, Member, https://www.nutritionsociety.org/