BRANCH LAB
Behavioral Research in Aging, Neuroscience, Cognition, and Health
Our mission is to promote cognitive and brain health in midlife and older age. Our current research projects include studies of bio-behavioral risk factors for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease, the benefits of physical activity and sleep for healthy aging, and women's healthy aging and menopause.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Cognition in Menopause (MenoCog) - We are currently enrolling participants in an NIH funded project that evaluates risk and preventive factors for poor cognitive function during the menopause transition, including actigraphy-derived measures of physical activity and sleep.
Women's Health in Midlife (Midlife Cohort) - Our ongoing projects investigate risk and protective factors for physical, mental, and cognitive health in midlife. Examples include associations between childhood adversity and midlife health, benefits of hormone medication use for midlife sleep health, and associations of menopause symptoms, sleep, and cognitive complaints.
Women's Brain Health & Cognition - Recent and ongoing projects explore associations between menopause history, hormone medication use, cognitive performance, and neuroimaging outcomes. A new project (MitoMeno) will explore the role of mitochondria in the brain health of peri-menopausal and recently post-menopausal women.