Medicine/geriatics
Université de Sherbrooke
In an era of information overload and increasing scrutiny of scientific integrity, critical thinking and scientific literacy are more essential than ever—yet they are often underdeveloped in nutrition science training. This presentation addresses a growing concern: the difficulty researchers and students face in identifying fabricated data, poorly designed studies, and biologically implausible conclusions. I will explore the challenges of interpreting clinical trials on omega-3 fatty acids and cognition, with a focus on identifying methodological flaws, fabricated data, and misleading conclusions. Through case studies, attendees will learn how to critically assess trial design, statistical validity, and reporting transparency.
Prof Plourde is a full professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, Canada. The goal of her research program is to prevent cognitive decline through a better understanding of the interactions between genetics and diet in the aging process and in the metabolism of omega-3 fatty acids. Her research program is developed around two research themes: (1) to understand how OM3 are transferred from the blood to the brain, (2) Maximise OM3 transport to the brain. In 2016, she received the first institutional Research Chair on lipid metabolism during aging donated by the Medical Research Center of Université de Sherbrooke. Her expertise in fatty acid analysis was recognized by joining as a co-chair the international group expert on Fatty Acid Best Practice Analysis sponsored by the International Life Science Institute-North America. In 2020, she was awarded the Canadian Nutrition Society Young Investigator Award for Outstanding Research.