Neurology Program

The overarching goal of the Neurology Program within the Kogod Center on Aging is to improve the understanding of the mechanisms underlying brain aging and age-related pathological changes. These changes can increase the risk of cognitive aging and Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

The Neurology Program's approach to understanding brain aging is by:

• Fostering collaborations between the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging and the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mayo Clinic.
• Training the next generation of investigators committed to research in age-related brain and pathological changes.
• Collaborating with other programs in the Center on Aging on crosscutting themes.
• Seeking new funding opportunities that can bring resources to the Center on Aging to work on the new scientific directions within the Neurology Program.

Focus areas

Research focus areas in the Neurology Program include:

• Imaging biomarkers for brain aging.
• Circulating factors linked to brain aging.
• Resilience mechanisms in aging, Alzheimer's disease and dementia.
• Remote digital cognitive assessments in the aging population.
• Brain aging and impact on gait and balance.
• Regionally defined cell composition changes in the aging brain.
• Senescence and risk of Alzheimer's disease.
• Genetic heterogeneity and brain aging.
• Microglial heterogeneity in aging and Alzheimer's disease.
• Pathways to exceptional aging.
• Basic and translational research on white matter changes with aging.
• Vascular dysfunction pathways to brain aging.