We explore whether life-style factors modify one’s risk for accelerated brain aging and dementia. These life-style factors include physical activity, sedentary behavior, diet/nutrition and social support. 

A person’s propensity to develop cognitive impairment and dementia in older age begins as early as in infancy (and even in uterus). One of the lab’s goals is to explore whether factors in early childhood affects one’s chances to develop brain health conditions. Our research in older Europeans showed that exposure to hunger in early life, as well as being a holocaust survivor, may be associated with poorer cognitive function. We also found that exposure to books in one’s home during childhood may be protective for the brain in old ages.

We explore whether health conditions may affect the risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. Among the health factors we focus on cardiovascular diseases, liver diseases, history of Covid-19, ADHD and more. 

Multiple blood biomarkers exist that can predict one’s risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Our lab is particularly interested in assessing the role of Neurotrophic factors such as BDNF in Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology. In addition, we have recently published our findings showing sex-dependent associations between multiple endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) and brain MRI measures in the Framingham Heart Study. 

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