Mark W. Miller, Jr., PhD, instructor

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with elevated risk for a variety of age-related diseases and neurodegeneration. Dr. Miller will review evidence relevant to the hypothesis that chronic PTSD constitutes a form of persistent life stress that potentiates oxidative stress (OXS) and accelerates cellular aging. He will provide an overview of empirical studies that have examined the effects of psychological stress on OXS, discuss the stress-perpetuating characteristics of PTSD, and then identify mechanisms by which PTSD might promote OXS and accelerated aging. Further, he will also review studies on OXS-related genes and the role that they may have in moderating the effects of PTSD on neural integrity. He will conclude with a discussion of directions for future research on antioxidant treatments and biomarkers of accelerated aging in PTSD.

Program Code: NAAH

1 CE Credit for psychologists, LMHCs, educators and nurses

Location: William James College, Newton

Enrollment LIMITED to 30 people

Mark W. Miller, PhD, is a Clinical Research Psychologist in the Behavioral Sciences Division of the National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry in the Boston University School of Medicine. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Florida State University. His research is focused on assessment and the neurobiology of PTSD. His work is supported by grants from NIMH and the Department of Veterans Affairs. He is an Associate Editor for Frontiers in Neuroscience. He serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for the University of Minnesota Press Test Division and he is also on editorial boards for the Journal of Abnormal Psychology, Journal of Traumatic Stress, and Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy. He has a private forensic practice that focuses on PTSD-related matters in civil and criminal courts.