Sarah Aldred

Professor Sarah Aldred is an academic at the University of Birmingham, serving as Head of the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences and holding the Professor of Exercise Biochemistry position. She investigates oxidative stress and its role in Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and dementia through exercise physiology and biochemical research.

• Education: BSc (Hons) in Chemistry with Analytical Chemistry (University of Hull), MSc in Toxicology (University of Birmingham), PhD in Biochemistry (University of Birmingham)

Her research focuses on understanding how physical activity and dietary interventions affect redox homeostasis in aging populations and those with chronic diseases. She has led groundbreaking studies on exercise effects on Alzheimer’s pathology and inflammation in psychosis, including a SPARC-funded project on lipoprotein oxidation.

Recent publications reveal trends in:

• 2025: Meta-analyzing APOE4 genotype responses to exercise interventions
• 2024: MedEx-UK trials on Mediterranean diet and dementia risk, lockdown impacts on cardiovascular patients
• 2022-2021: Investigating ADAM10 in astrocytes, inflammation in psychosis, and emotion recognition links to BMI

Scientific Awards & Contributions:

• Head of School Award for Excellence in Learning and Teaching (2007)
• Excellent in Teaching Awards (2018, 2020)
• SPARC Award for exercise research
• Invited speaker at Learning and Teaching Conferences
• Associate Editor, Journal of Sports Sciences
• Founding member of Alzheimer’s Research UK Midlands Network

She contributes to modules like Perspectives in Metabolism and Nutrition and Research Skills for Interdisciplinary Research, with professional memberships in Biochemical Society, American College of Sports Medicine, and European College of Sports Science. Her work spans neurodegenerative disease, psychiatric research, and public health.