Projects per year
Personal profile
Areas of Expertise
Nutrition, Nutrigenetics, omega-3 fatty acids, Cognition, Dementia, Menopause
Video: Menopause for all (2024)
Video: Nutrition, brain vitality and dementia (UEA London Lectures 2019)
Biography
Professor of Nutrigenetics, Head of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine in Norwich Medical School and domain lead in Norwich Institute of Healthy Ageing (NIHA) and Lifespan Health Centre
Our research investigates the impact of select dietary components, in particular n-3 fatty acids and a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern on cognitive health, dementia risk, and mood and anxiety, with a recent focus on the menopause transition as an important window of intervention opportunity. We also investigate nutrient-genotype interactions with a focus on the APOE genotype, establishing the aetiology of genotype-health associations and dietary strategies to mitigate the effects of the ‘at-risk’ APOE4 allele.
Having completed my first degree in Nutrition and Biochemistry at University College Cork (Ireland), I moved to the UK to complete my PhD. I have been based here ever since, apart from a one-year stay at Auckland Medical School (NZ).
I enjoy the outdoors and in particular running, good food, social and historical fiction, and travel and its planning.
Professional Memberships
- British Nutrition Society
- American Society of Nutrition
- International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL)
- Nutrigenomics Organisation (NuGO)
Key Research Interests
I am Head of the NUTRIGENETICS group within the Department of Nutrition and Preventive Medicine, with our key research interests being:
- Nutrigenetics and in particular APOE genotype
- n-3 fatty acids metabolism and efficacy
- Mediterranean-style dietary pattern
- Cognition and Alzheimer’s disease risk
- Menopausal well being
Research approaches
A large proportion of our research involves human intervention trials (RCTs). In addition, we employ a variety of wild-type and transgenic rodent models and cell and molecular techniques to investigate underlying mechanisms, and to inform the foci of our RCTs.
Examples of ongoing RCTs include:
- Enhancing cognition through the menopausal transition in at-risk 'APOE4' carriers by fatty acid and hormonal modulation (BBSRC funded, 2023-2026, with the University of Exeter): Series of interventions in transgenic rodent models and a UK Biobank analysis,
- Apple Tree (ESRC-NIHR funded, 2019-2025): Active Prevention in People at Risk of Dementia through Lifestyle, Behaviour change and Technology to build resilience, 20+ research partners,
- MediMood: The acute effect of a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern (MDP) on mood, anxiety and cognition in UK adults with mild to moderate anxiety and depression: (BBSRC-MRC-NIHR funded, UK NRP, 2023-2025):
- Inclusivity in Menopausal Research (NIHR funded, 2024-2025)
Current Collaborators
- Prof Andrew Pipingas, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia
- Associate Professor Karen Murphy, University of Southern, Australia
- Dr Sonia de Pascual-Teresa, Spanish National Research Council, Spain
- Prof Nils Helge Schebb, University of Wuppertal, Germany
- Dr Jessica Rigutto-Farebrother, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland
- Prof John Mathers, Dr Oliver Shannon, Prof Emma Stevenson, Newcastle University, UK
- Dr Sarah Aldred, University of Birmingham, UK
- Prof David Llewellyn, University of Exeter, UK
- Dr Cristina Legido-Quigley, Prof Wendy Hall, Prof Sarah Berry, KCL, UK
- Prof Julie Lovegrove, Dr Kim Jackson, University of Reading, UK
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 SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Doctor of Philosophy, Ph.D., Nutrition, Iron Metabolism, Quadram Institute Bioscience
… → 1996
Bachelor of Science, B.Sc., Nutrition and Biochemistry, University College Cork
… → 1991
Media Expertise
- Healthy Ageing
- Dementia
- Nutrition
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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A partnership for community-led health behaviour change research in areas of high socio-economic disadvantage
Hardeman, W., Abranches, M., Gordon, J., Hanson, S., McNeil, J., Minihane, A., Sweeting, A., Abranches, M., McNeil, J., McWatt, T., Robinson-Pant, A. & Varley, A.
National Institute for Health and Care Research
1/06/23 → 30/11/25
Project: Research
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The efficacy of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in people with aspirin exacerbated airways disease and uncontrolled asthma
Wilson, A., Fraser, W., Minihane, A., Clark, A., Felgate, M., Grant, K., High, J., Mcalister, C., Pond, M., Stirling, S., Swart, A. M., West, C. & Tang, J.
National Institute for Health and Care Research
1/01/21 → 31/12/26
Project: Research
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The gut microbiota in menopause: Is there a role for prebiotic and probiotic solutions?
Liaquat, M., Minihane, A. M., Vauzour, D. & Pontifex, M. G., 7 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Post Reproductive Health.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open AccessFile4 Downloads (Pure) -
Adherence to the Eatwell Guide and cardiometabolic, cognitive and neuroimaging parameters: An analysis from the PREVENT dementia study
Gregory, S., Griffiths, A., Jennings, A., Malcomson, F. C., Matu, J., Minihane, A-M., Muniz-Terrera, G., Ritchie, C. W., Parra-Soto, S., Stevenson, E., Townsend, R., Ward, N. A. & Shannon, O., 9 Apr 2024, In: Nutrition & Metabolism. 21, 21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
APOE genotype, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) supplementation and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) levels in patients with multiple colorectal polyps: A secondary analysis of the seAFOod polyp prevention trial
Sun, G., Davies, J. R., Mell, T., Harland, M., Saleh, R. M. H., Race, A. D., Loadman, P. M., Williams, E. A., Minihane, A. M. & Hull, M. A., 2024, In: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 201, 102623.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile37 Downloads (Pure) -
Chronic and postprandial effect of blueberries on cognitive function, alertness, and mood in participants with metabolic syndrome – results from a six-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial
Curtis, P. J., van der Velpen, V., Berends, L., Jennings, A., Haag, L., Minihane, A-M., Chandra, P., Kay, C. D., Rimm, E. B. & Cassidy, A., Mar 2024, In: The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 119, 3, p. 658-668 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus)12 Downloads (Pure) -
Effectiveness and feasibility of a theory-informed intervention to improve Mediterranean diet adherence, physical activity and cognition in older adults at risk of dementia: The MedEx-UK randomised controlled trial
Jennings, A., Shannon, O. M., Gillings, R., Lee, V., Elsworthy, R. J., Bundy, R., Girish, R., Hanson, S., Hardeman, W., Paddick, S-M., Servo, M., Aldred, S., Mathers, J. C., Hornberger, M. & Minihane, A-M., 23 Dec 2024, In: BMC Medicine. 22, 600.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile14 Downloads (Pure)
Activities
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Nutrition Research Reviews (Journal)
Anne-Marie Minihane (Deputy Editor)
2022 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Frontiers in Aging (Journal)
Anne-Marie Minihane (Deputy Editor)
2022 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Improving Standards in the Science of Nutrition (External organisation)
Anne-Marie Minihane (UK Representative)
2021 → …Activity: Membership › Network, Working Group or Professional Association
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Frontiers in Nutrition (Journal)
Anne-Marie Minihane (Deputy Editor)
2020 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
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Nutrition Bulletin (Journal)
Anne-Marie Minihane (Editorial board member)
2020 → …Activity: Editorial work › Publication editorial role
Press/Media
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Women Positively Ageing: How to protect your brain health
10/07/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Food Matters Live: How does what you eat affect brain function?
17/06/22
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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UEA launches new institute for healthier living and ageing
20/10/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: UEA Press Release
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Episode 5: Maintaining health and wellbeing during lockdown
28/05/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution
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Coronavirus: Should I worry about my lockdown eating?
24/04/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Media Coverage or Contribution