Dorothy Bruck

Dorothy Bruck, BA (Hons) (Uni Tas), PhD (La Trobe), MAPS, is an Emeritus Professor at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia. Her academic interests include sleep/wake behaviour, mental health, chronic fatigue, arousal thresholds, human behaviour in emergencies and the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities. She is a founding Director of the Sleep Health Foundation, Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia.

Education

 * 1990 - PhD, La Trobe University (Thesis: Dietary intake and sleepiness after glucose in narcolepsy)

Books

 * 2017, Chapter 31 - Sleep, Cognitive and Mood Symptoms in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, in The Handbook of Stress and Health: A Guide to Research and Practice"'Abstract - Sleep abnormalities, neurocognitive disturbances and comorbid depressive symptoms are some of the particularly debilitating symptoms experienced by patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). This complex condition with currently evasive etiology involves a multisystemic symptom presentation that can reflect dysfunction in several organs and biological systems. The microbiota-gut-brain axis provides one possible pathway where dysfunction in communication between enteric microbiota, the gastro-intestinal system, and the brain may precipitate some ME/CFS symptoms. Sleep, neurocognitive and depressive symptoms are examined with recent microbiome research highlighting the potential etiological role of dysfunction in gut-brain communication. Treatment alternatives are reviewed with a focus on addressing underlying pathophysiology and possible causal mechanisms. The burgeoning field of microbiota research across diverse health fields provides an avenue of hope for future therapeutic advances and improved health outcomes for patients with ME/CFS."

Notable studies on ME/CFS

 * 2018, Open-label pilot for treatment targeting gut dysbiosis in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome: neuropsychological symptoms and sex comparisons (FULL TEXT) (Correction)
 * 2017, Examining clinical similarities between myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and d-lactic acidosis: a systematic review (FULL TEXT)
 * 2016, Support for the Microgenderome: Associations in a Human Clinical Population (FULL TEXT)
 * 2015, Sleep quality and the treatment of intestinal microbiota imbalance in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A pilot study (FULL TEXT)
 * 2012, Sleep Abnormalities in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis: A Review (FULL TEXT)

Talks and interviews

 * 9 February 2015, "Professor Dorothy Bruck speaks with Michael Mackenzie about the key to a good night's sleep"

Online presence

 * Victoria University Bio
 * ResearchGate
 * Google Scholar
 * Curriculum Vitae