Björg Helgadottir

I teach physical activity and brain health as well as research methodology, including how to collect data in the best way.

I am also responsible for and teach on the course Work and Organizational Psychology.

My research interests are physical activity and sedentary behaviors and the relationship with brain health, i.e. mental health and cognition in adolescence.

At GIH, I have worked in the project Brain Health in School. The first study from this project was a cross-sectional study in which 1139 adolescents participated and we collected data on physical activity, sedentary lifestyle, dietary habits and brain health.

I am leading an acute lab study from the same project where we are looking at the effects of movement breaks on cognition and blood flow to the brain as well as the effects of breakfast on the same outcome. In another study, we have developed an intervention to promote brain health by extending the school day with extra physical activity. A large number of schools and pupils from year 8 will participate.

My background is in public health and epidemiology as well as sociology. My PhD project focused on exercise as a treatment for depression. In this project, I used data from a randomized trial to investigate whether the intensity level of exercise plays a role in improving depression.

In the project Brain Health in Schools, we have a broad collaboration with both industry, interest groups and schools.