Can you describe the research you’re working on as part of TIME-AD?

I work on a variety of projects investigating how lifecourse factors are associated with later-life brain health. My latest projects are concerned with possible associations between early/midlife stressful life events or mental health challenges may be associated with brain health in later life.

I leverage health visits undertaken by all individuals in the Kaiser cohort studies between 1964 and 1985. During these visits, participants answered questions about life stressors, emotional distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, which I can link to study MRIs completed in later life, an average of 40 years after completion of these surveys.

What inspired you to get involved in ADRD research?

I was lucky enough to get a job as a research coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital working on the Harvard Aging Brain Study right after finishing my undergraduate degree, and in a way I just kind of fell into it! I was incredibly interested in the brain and MRI research and hoped to pursue a PhD, but I didn’t know exactly what area I wanted to focus on; I decided quickly that I had found the right field for me. Aging is a near-universal process, and people often slow down a bit as they age, which can make it difficult to distinguish between healthy cognitive aging and the earliest stages of pathological cognitive decline. I was fascinated with the idea that brain imaging might help us flag those who are on the road to dementia before they develop severe symptoms, ultimately identifying who might benefit most from intervention, clinical trials, and treatment at a point when we might be able to slow or stop disease progression.

What’s a common misconception about science or research that you wish more people would challenge?

Our scientific understanding in most fields isn’t built on one big, exciting study. Work is usually slow, incremental, and doesn’t always grab headlines, but it’s all important to help us understand more about the world.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love to knit--my needles are in my hands most of the time! I also like to read, travel, and hang out with my husband and cat.