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CMU Researcher Named Outstanding Scientist 2025 for Her Research Linking Abdominal Obesity to Cognitive Decline

22 August 2025
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
On August 13, 2025, at Centara Grand, located at Central Plaza Ladprao Bangkok, the Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Technology under the Patronage of HM the King hosted a press conference announcing recipients of the Outstanding Scientists and Young Scientists Awards 2025.
Ms. Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, presided over the ceremony and presented the awards.
This year, Distinguished Professor Dr. Siriporn Chattipakorn, from the Department of Oral Biology and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry as well as the Neurophysiology Unit, Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Training Centre (CERT CENTRE), Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, has been named a recipient of the Outstanding Scientists Awards 2025, earning a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and a prize of 400,000 baht.
Her award-winning research titled, ‘Neuropathophysiology of learning and memory impairment: from animal model to clinical study’, links abdominal obesity to cognitive decline. This in-depth study spans from cellular to clinical research, aiming to study the pathology in the brain of those with learning and memory impairment or dementia, which can be caused by various factors such as abdominal obesity, senility, ischaemic heart disease and chemotherapy.
It also aims to discover new treatment methods and biomarkers with clinical applications by adopting the "cell-to-bedside" principle of holistic research. This involved incorporating fundamental research in molecular biology, the brain’s electrical system, and learning and memory mechanisms into clinical applications, resulting in new knowledge that can serve as a foundation for future dementia treatment and prevention.
The study reveals an important link between abdominal obesity and cognitive decline. Prolonged consumption of high-fat foods can lead to gut dysbiosis, which triggers gastrointestinal inflammation, fat accumulation, and systemic low-grade inflammation. This can also cause insulin resistance in both the body and nerve cells, as well as mitochondrial defects and microglial dysfunction in the brain, all of which impact learning and memory. The research also points out that abdominal obesity increases the risk of accumulated beta-amyloids in the brain, a key factor contributing to dementia. A crucial finding from the study is that reducing abdominal obesity through exercise, diet control, or diabetes medications can lead to the regeneration of cognitive functions and a significant enhancement of learning and memory.
Additionally, Dr. Sirasit Srinuanpan, from the CMU Centre for Excellence in Microbial Diversity and Sustainable Utilisation, has been named one of this year’s recipients of the Young Scientists Award. He received a trophy from HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn along with a cash prize of 100,000 baht in recognition of his biotechnology research on algae and cyanobacteria for applications in agriculture, food, energy, and environmental sustainability.
These accolades reflect Chiang Mai University’s strong commitment to advancing research for the benefit of both academia and society.
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