Dr. Nárlon C. Boa Sorte Silva

Dr. Nárlon C. Boa Sorte Silva is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology at Concordia University. He completed his postdoctoral training (2020–2024) in the Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health at The University of British Columbia, under the supervision of Professor Teresa Liu-Ambrose. He received his PhD (2016–2020) in Kinesiology from Western University, where he worked in Professor Robert Petrella's laboratory at the Centre for Studies in Family Medicine. Originally from Brazil, he earned a BSc (2011–2014) in Physical Education from Nove de Julho University in São Paulo. Dr. Silva is passionate about (doing, reading, discussing, basically anything to do with) brain health research. He also appreciates teaching and mentoring students, and engaging with patients and community members via public outreach and volunteer activities (e.g., talks, webinars, workshops). In his spare time, he loves spending time with his daughter, wife, and dogs, as well as cooking Brazilian food, reading, and (kind of) running.

Winter

EXCI 460

Sections 01 and 02

Integrative Human Physiology

Winter 2025

The overarching goal of Dr. Silva’s research is to investigate the impact of physical activity and exercise on brain health in mid- and late-life. He is also interested in identifying factors associated with neurodegeneration and neuroprotection during the aging process, using novel data modelling techniques to identify high-risk individuals and design targeted interventions and studying underexplored markers like white matter myelin. Dr. Silva's expertise encompasses the design and implementation of randomized controlled trials and observational studies in healthy and clinical populations, as well as the collection and analysis of neuropsychological, cardiorespiratory, gait spatiotemporal characteristics, and neuroimaging data. 

Dr. Silva is always open to discussing potential collaborations in the areas of physical activity, exercise, aging, brain health, and mobility decline. His research has been funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Michael Smith Health Research BC (MSHR BC), Canadians for Leading Edge Alzheimer Research (CLEAR), StrokeCog, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and the Alzheimer’s Association. 

A cornerstone of Dr. Silva’s academic mission is to advocate for open science and the democratization of knowledge. He actively promotes research, mentoring, and teaching environments that are free from any form discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, race, body composition, and cultural background. Dr. Silva seeks to empower and inspire people from diverse backgrounds as he understands that increasing diversity is central to promoting social justice. Additionally, Dr. Silva is supportive of the responsible and ethical use of AI to promote equity in research and teaching and for the betterment of society. Dr. Silva is open to discussing collaborations in these areas as well.

Please feel free to reach out via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn for any questions or requests.

Selected Publications

Silva, N. C. B. S., Balbim, G. M., Stein, R. G., Gu, Y., Tam, R. C., Dao, E., Alkeridy, W., Lam, K., Kramer, A. F., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2025). Physical activity may protect myelin via modulation of high-density lipoprotein. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 21(2), e14599. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14599

Balbim, G. M., Silva, N. C. B. S., Falck, R. S., Kramer, A. F., Voss, M. W., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2025). 24-hour activity cycle behaviors and gray matter volume in mild cognitive impairment. Alzheimer’s & Dementia, 21(7), e70496. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70496

Silva, N. C. B. S., Barha, C. K., Erickson, K. I., Kramer, A. F., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2024). Physical exercise, cognition, and brain health in aging. Trends in Neurosciences, 47(6), 402–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TINS.2024.04.004

Petrella, R. J., Gill, D. P., Silva, N. C. B. S., Riggin, B., Blunt, W. M., Kfrerer, M., Majoni, M., Marsh, J., Irwin, J. D., Stranges, S., Zwarenstein, M., & Zou, G. (2024). The hockey fans in training intervention for men with overweight or obesity: a pragmatic cluster randomised trial. eClinicalMedicine, 77, 102911.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.102911

Silva, N. C. B. S., ten Brinke, L. F., Bielak, A. A. M., Handy, T. C., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2023). Improved intraindividual variability in cognitive performance following cognitive and exercise training in older adults. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1355617723000577

Falck, R. S., Silva, N. C. B. S., Balbim, G. M., Li, L. C., Barha, C. K., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2023). Addressing the elephant in the room: the need to examine the role of social determinants of health in the relationship of the 24-hour activity cycle and adult cognitive health. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 57(22), 1416–1418. https://doi.org/10.1136/BJSPORTS-2023-106893

Balbim, G. M.*, Silva, N. C. B. S.*, ten Brinke, L. F., Falck, R. S., Hortobágyi, T., Granacher, U., Erickson, K., Hernández-Gamboa, R., Liu-Ambrose, T. (2023). Aerobic exercise training effects on hippocampal volume in healthy older individuals: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. GeroScience 2023, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11357-023-00971-7. *Co-first authors.

Elahi, F. M., Alladi, S., Black, S. E., Claassen, J. A. H. R., Decarli, C., Hughes, T. M., … Silva, N. C. B. S., … Kistler, J. P. (2023). Clinical trials in vascular cognitive impairment following SPRINT-MIND: An international perspective. Cell Reports Medicine, 4, 101089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101089

Silva, N. C. B. S., Dao, E., Hsu, C. L., Tam, R. C., Lam, K., Alkeridy, W., Laule, C., Vavasour, I. M., Stein, R. G., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2022). Myelin and physical activity in older adults with cerebral small vessel disease and mild cognitive impairment. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, glac149. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glac149

Silva, N. C. B. S., Dao, E., Hsu, C. L., Tam, R. C., Stein, R., Alkeridy, W., Laule, C., Vavasour, I. M., & Liu-Ambrose, T. (2022). Myelin content and gait impairment in older adults with cerebral small vessel disease and mild cognitive impairment. Neurobiology of Aging, 119, 56–66. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.03.020

Silva, N. C. B. S., Bracko, O., Nelson, A. R., De Oliveira, F. F., Robinson, L. S., Shaaban, C. E., Hainsworth, A. H., Price, B. R. (2022). Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia: An early career researcher perspective. Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 14(1), e12310. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12310

Complete list of publications:

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