Elizabeth A. Boots, Ph.D., L.P.

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SUMMARY

Elizabeth A. Boots, Ph.D., L.P., studies the cognitive and brain changes that occur in aging, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia due to Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. She is particularly focused on understanding risk and resilience factors for developing neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on health disparities. Her work incorporates traditional neuropsychological measures, digital neuropsychological assessment and structural neuroimaging techniques.

Focus areas

• Early identification of cognitive decline in neurodegenerative disease using digital assessment. Dr. Boots uses a web-based cognitive testing platform — Mayo Test Development Through Rapid Iteration, Validation and Expansion (Mayo Test Drive) — to explore the effectiveness of digital tools in identifying early cognitive decline in older adults. Her research examines how performance on Mayo Test Drive correlates with established neuropsychological assessments and biomarkers associated with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and progressive supranuclear palsy.
• Roles of stress response and health disparities in developing cognitive decline. Dr. Boots studies the synergistic roles of inflammation and psychosocial stress on cognitive function and brain white matter integrity, with a focus on populations at increased risk of psychosocial stress and health disparities. Her work demonstrates that increased levels of psychosocial stress and inflammation negatively affect cognition over time.
• Cardiovascular risk factors, physical activity and brain and cognitive health. Dr. Boots has shown that cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, impact brain structural connectivity and cognition. Her work investigates associations between physical activity and brain and cognitive function using structural imaging techniques and neuropsychological assessment.

Significance to patient care

Dr. Boots' research helps identify why some people may experience memory and thinking issues, while others may be more protected. Her work focuses on improving access to early testing for cognitive decline and finding ways to reduce the risk or delay the start of dementia.

Professional highlights

• Mayo Clinic:
  • Robert J. Ivnik Psychology Fellow Achievement Award, 2024.
  • Howard P. Rome Psychology Fellow Academic Writing Award, 2024.
• Chair, Trainee Communications, Dementia Special Interest Group, International Neuropsychological Society, 2022-2024.
• Membership officer, Association of Neuropsychological Students & Trainees, Division 40 of the American Psychological Association, Society for Clinical Neuropsychology, 2022-2024.
• Department of Psychiatry 17th Annual Lewis Judd Young Investigators Symposium Award for Exceptional Work in Diverse Populations & Health Disparities, University of California San Diego, 2022.
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (F31 AG064829), National Institute on Aging, 2019-2021.
• University of Illinois at Chicago:
  • Leonard D. Eron Award Outstanding Scholarly Accomplishment, 2021.
  • Christopher B. Keys Award for Early Outstanding Research Achievement, 2019.
  • Paul D. Doolen Graduate Scholarship for the Study of Aging, 2017-2018.