Dr Kevin Nijssen (K.M.R.)

Kevin M.R. Nijssen is a registered nutritionist with a Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences from Maastricht University (2019), specializing in Nutrition, Physical activity, and Metabolism. In September 2019, he started his PhD at the Physiology of Human Nutrition (PHuN) research group within the Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences (NUTRIM) at Maastricht University, under the supervision of Prof. Ir. Dr. Ronald P. Mensink, Prof. Dr. Jogchum Plat, and Dr. Peter J. Joris.

His PhD research focused on lifestyle and nutritional strategies to improve brain health and prevent age-related cognitive decline and metabolic impairments in older adults with overweight or obesity. His primary interest has been in the long-term effects of dietary interventions on insulin sensitivity and vascular function of the brain, utilizing advanced non-invasive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-techniques. 

In December 2023, he was awarded the Kootstra Talent Fellowship, allowing him to delve deeper into the mechanisms through which diet, particularly nutritional ketosis, impacts brain insulin sensitivity and function. His research aims to bridge nutritional science and neurobiology, advancing our understanding of how dietary interventions can contribute to improved brain functional outcomes.