About

My research vision is to characterize how menopausal hormonal changes shape cognitive and brain vulnerability/resilience in women with and without risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular emphasis on hormonal mechanisms that contribute to synaptic loss. This work is motivated by evidence that synaptic integrity supports cognitive resilience by buffering against neuropathology propagation and is sensitive to reproductive hormones. Using complementary observational studies and experimental hormone manipulation, my research integrates multimodal molecular neuroimaging—including synaptic density PET—with mass spectrometry-based hormone assays to characterize synaptic loss and its hormonal determinants across the menopause transition. My long-term goal is to establish an evidence-based framework for understanding brain adaptation to menopause, identify mechanisms that confer resilience or vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis, and develop precision medicine approaches to preserve cognitive and brain health in aging women. My research is supported by a growing portfolio of intramural and extramural funding, including the Foundation of Hope, Duke-UNC Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, and the Simons Foundation.