Amanda Simanek - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Amanda Simanek

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent Viral Pathogens and Cognitive Impairment across the Lifecourse in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but littl... more Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but little is known about the association in the general U.S. population.Methods. We examined whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) seropositivity were associated with cognitive impairment among children 6-16, adults 20-59 and adults 60 years of age and older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between pathogen seropositivity and cognitive impairment.Results. Among children, HSV-1 seropositivity was associated with lower reading and spatial reasoning test scores (β=-0.69, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), -1.18, -0.21 and β=-0.82, 95% CI, -1.29, -0.36, respectively). Among middle-aged adults, HSV-1 and CMV seropositivity were associated with impaired coding speed (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.54; 95% CI, 1.13, 2.11 and OR=1.41; 95% CI, 1.09, 1.82, respectively). C...

Research paper thumbnail of Toxoplasma gondii and anxiety disorders in a community-based sample

Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2015

A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii... more A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. However, a potential association between T. gondii exposure and anxiety disorders has not been rigorously explored. Here, we examine the association of T. gondii infection with both anxiety and mood disorders. Participants (n=484) were drawn from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, a population-representative sample of Detroit residents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between T. gondii exposure (defined by seropositivity and IgG antibody levels) and three mental disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We found that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a 2 times greater odds of GAD (odds ratio (OR), 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-4.53) after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, marital...

Research paper thumbnail of Seropositivity to Cytomegalovirus, Inflammation, All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease-Related Mortality in the United States

PLoS ONE, 2011

Background: Studies have suggested that CMV infection may influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) ... more Background: Studies have suggested that CMV infection may influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. However, there have been no large-scale examinations of these relationships among demographically diverse populations. The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is also linked with CVD outcomes and mortality and may play an important role in the pathway between CMV and mortality. We utilized a U.S. nationally representative study to examine whether CMV infection is associated with all-cause and CVD-related mortality. We also assessed whether CRP level mediated or modified these relationships.

Research paper thumbnail of 5125963 Metallurgical controlling method

Minerals Engineering, 1993

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent Viral Pathogens and Cognitive Impairment Across the Life Course in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2014

Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but littl... more Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but little is known about the association in the general US population.

Research paper thumbnail of Reply to Mendy

Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent Infection, Inflammation, and Functional Impairment in Older Latinos

The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2008

Background. The objective of this study was to examine whether cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simp... more Background. The objective of this study was to examine whether cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with functional impairment in older Latinos.

Research paper thumbnail of The association between vitamin D deficiency, folate deficiency and seropositivity to persistent pathogens among U.S. children

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-economic status, cortisol and allostatic load: a review of the literature

International Journal of Epidemiology, 2009

Background The notion that chronic stress contributes to health inequalities by socio-economic st... more Background The notion that chronic stress contributes to health inequalities by socio-economic status (SES) through physiological wear and tear has received widespread attention. This article reviews the literature testing associations between SES and cortisol, an important biomarker of stress, as well as the summary index of allostatic load (AL).

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent pathogens linking socioeconomic position and cardiovascular disease in the US

International Journal of Epidemiology, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Population Levels of Psychological Stress, Herpesvirus Reactivation and HIV

AIDS and Behavior, 2010

Nearly 40,000 Americans are newly infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) each year.

Research paper thumbnail of New advances in CMV and immunosenescence

Experimental Gerontology, 2014

Immunosenescence, defined as the age-associated dysregulation and dysfunction of the immune syste... more Immunosenescence, defined as the age-associated dysregulation and dysfunction of the immune system, is characterized by impaired protective immunity and decreased efficacy of vaccines. An increasing number of immunological, clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that persistent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with accelerated aging of the immune system and with several age-related diseases. However, current evidence on whether and how human CMV (HCMV) infection is implicated in immunosenescence and in age-related diseases remains incomplete and many aspects of CMV involvement in immune aging remain controversial. The attendees of the 4th International Workshop on "CMV & Immunosenescence", held in Parma, Italy, 25-27th March, 2013, presented and discussed data related to these open questions, which are reported in this commentary.

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent Viral Pathogens and Cognitive Impairment across the Lifecourse in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The Journal of Infectious Diseases

Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but littl... more Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but little is known about the association in the general U.S. population.Methods. We examined whether cytomegalovirus (CMV) and herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) seropositivity were associated with cognitive impairment among children 6-16, adults 20-59 and adults 60 years of age and older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) III. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between pathogen seropositivity and cognitive impairment.Results. Among children, HSV-1 seropositivity was associated with lower reading and spatial reasoning test scores (β=-0.69, 95% Confidence Interval (CI), -1.18, -0.21 and β=-0.82, 95% CI, -1.29, -0.36, respectively). Among middle-aged adults, HSV-1 and CMV seropositivity were associated with impaired coding speed (Odds Ratio (OR)=1.54; 95% CI, 1.13, 2.11 and OR=1.41; 95% CI, 1.09, 1.82, respectively). C...

Research paper thumbnail of Toxoplasma gondii and anxiety disorders in a community-based sample

Brain, behavior, and immunity, 2015

A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii... more A growing body of literature suggests that exposure to the neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is associated with increased risk of mental disorders, particularly schizophrenia. However, a potential association between T. gondii exposure and anxiety disorders has not been rigorously explored. Here, we examine the association of T. gondii infection with both anxiety and mood disorders. Participants (n=484) were drawn from the Detroit Neighborhood Health Study, a population-representative sample of Detroit residents. Logistic regression was used to examine the associations between T. gondii exposure (defined by seropositivity and IgG antibody levels) and three mental disorders: generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. We found that T. gondii seropositivity was associated with a 2 times greater odds of GAD (odds ratio (OR), 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11-4.53) after adjusting for age, gender, race, income, marital...

Research paper thumbnail of Seropositivity to Cytomegalovirus, Inflammation, All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease-Related Mortality in the United States

PLoS ONE, 2011

Background: Studies have suggested that CMV infection may influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) ... more Background: Studies have suggested that CMV infection may influence cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and mortality. However, there have been no large-scale examinations of these relationships among demographically diverse populations. The inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is also linked with CVD outcomes and mortality and may play an important role in the pathway between CMV and mortality. We utilized a U.S. nationally representative study to examine whether CMV infection is associated with all-cause and CVD-related mortality. We also assessed whether CRP level mediated or modified these relationships.

Research paper thumbnail of 5125963 Metallurgical controlling method

Minerals Engineering, 1993

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent Viral Pathogens and Cognitive Impairment Across the Life Course in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2014

Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but littl... more Background. Herpesviruses have been linked to cognitive impairment in older individuals but little is known about the association in the general US population.

Research paper thumbnail of Reply to Mendy

Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent Infection, Inflammation, and Functional Impairment in Older Latinos

The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2008

Background. The objective of this study was to examine whether cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simp... more Background. The objective of this study was to examine whether cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), and C-reactive protein (CRP) are associated with functional impairment in older Latinos.

Research paper thumbnail of The association between vitamin D deficiency, folate deficiency and seropositivity to persistent pathogens among U.S. children

International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-economic status, cortisol and allostatic load: a review of the literature

International Journal of Epidemiology, 2009

Background The notion that chronic stress contributes to health inequalities by socio-economic st... more Background The notion that chronic stress contributes to health inequalities by socio-economic status (SES) through physiological wear and tear has received widespread attention. This article reviews the literature testing associations between SES and cortisol, an important biomarker of stress, as well as the summary index of allostatic load (AL).

Research paper thumbnail of Persistent pathogens linking socioeconomic position and cardiovascular disease in the US

International Journal of Epidemiology, 2009

Research paper thumbnail of Population Levels of Psychological Stress, Herpesvirus Reactivation and HIV

AIDS and Behavior, 2010

Nearly 40,000 Americans are newly infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) each year.

Research paper thumbnail of New advances in CMV and immunosenescence

Experimental Gerontology, 2014

Immunosenescence, defined as the age-associated dysregulation and dysfunction of the immune syste... more Immunosenescence, defined as the age-associated dysregulation and dysfunction of the immune system, is characterized by impaired protective immunity and decreased efficacy of vaccines. An increasing number of immunological, clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that persistent Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is associated with accelerated aging of the immune system and with several age-related diseases. However, current evidence on whether and how human CMV (HCMV) infection is implicated in immunosenescence and in age-related diseases remains incomplete and many aspects of CMV involvement in immune aging remain controversial. The attendees of the 4th International Workshop on "CMV & Immunosenescence", held in Parma, Italy, 25-27th March, 2013, presented and discussed data related to these open questions, which are reported in this commentary.