Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry
My research is primarily focused on cognition and normal aging as well as risk factors associated with developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). The broad goals of my research are to understand which modifiable risk factors protect against the development of AD, including education and cognitive reserve, lifestyle factors like social engagement, and mood factors like depression and anxiety.
Another area of my research involves understanding the link between Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and AD, in collaboration with my mentor Dr. Nunzio Pomara. We have examined several biological variables associated with AD in elderly individuals with MDD, including markers of AD and of brain immune response.
I am also interested the application of neuroimaging methods, such as high-density electroencephalography (EEG) and simultaneous EEG-functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG/fMRI), to the study of cognition and memory in normal aging. My previous research was in the application of EEG and EEG/fMRI to the study the neural correlates of basic memory processes in humans.
In recent years, I have been overseeing the Memory Education and Research Initiative (MERI) program at the Nathan S Kline Institute, a longitudinal, community cohort of aging individuals from Rockland County, NY, under the direction of Dr. Nunzio Pomara. The MERI cohort facilitates the characterization of cognitive, clinical, behavioral and biological variable information from over 1400 individuals spanning 20 years. Through the MERI cohort we are examining the association of modifiable risk factors and markers AD-risk using biological variables (plasma). I also serve as the lead community educator for the MERI program, including maintaining and establishing new community relationships with nonprofit organizations, designing educational content and delivering the community presentations.
Clinical Instructor, Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Nathan S. Kline Institute, Geriatric Psychiatry
Immunity & ageing : I & A. 2024 May 17; 21(1):32
Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience. 2023; 17:1132061
Brain connectivity. 2022 Dec; 12(10):892-904
Translational psychiatry. 2022 Jul 28; 12(1):301
Frontiers in psychology. 2022 May; 13:788231
Frontiers in behavioral neuroscience. 2022 Dec; 16:958609
Journal of affective disorders. 2021 Jun 24; 293:429-434