Risk factors for cognitive aging and dementia

Therapeutic strategies to maintain and improve cognitive abilities during aging and dementia

Within the population health sciences, our research agenda encompasses cognitive change that occurs as a usual concomitant of normal aging and more debilitating impairment that accompanies Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.  Pathological changes of Alzheimer’s disease are believed to begin years, if not decades, before the onset of mental symptoms.  For this reason, a key aspect of our research includes investigation of factors that affect cognitive skills at midlife, a time when therapeutic interventions offer the greatest potential of forestalling late-life impairment.

One current research focus pertains to different forms of mental and physical activity in older men and women, which many believe can help remediate cognitive aging and perhaps lower the risk of dementia.  Another research theme pertains particularly to adult women’s health.  Here, we continue to examine cognitive consequences of estrogen, testosterone and other hormones whose concentrations vary with age.