Our Current Research Focus
Greater sedentary time in older adulthood has been associated with a host of poor health outcomes including increased risk for stroke, dementia, and mortality. Evidence suggests that while being physically active may reduce the detrimental effects of sedentary behavior, it does not completely eliminate all harmful risks. It is important to understand how being sedentary may contribute to poor brain health and risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Preventing Cognitive Decline
Exercise and physical activity have been associated with positive health benefits in aging, but the mechanisms underlying these benefits are poorly understood. Our work aims to understand the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of physical activity on brain health to prevent cognitive decline.
Social Determinants
Social determinants of health including the neighborhood someone lives in can have a negative impact on health outcomes, including increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Less is known about the biological mechanisms that drive these associations. Our lab is interested in exploring these sociobiological mechanisms that may underlie health disparities in aging.
