SUMMARY
Diego Zaquera Carvalho, M.D., M.S., investigates the bidirectional relationships between sleep, aging and neurodegeneration. His research combines neuroimaging, electrophysiological signals and cognitive data to uncover the mechanisms underlying dementia. By applying advanced quantitative methods — including artificial intelligence (AI) — to multimodal neurophysiological data, Dr. Carvalho aims to develop predictive models that identify individuals at heightened risk of developing dementia.
Dr. Carvalho is particularly interested in common sleep disorders that affect older adults, such as obstructive sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, restless legs syndrome and REM sleep behavior disorder. His goal is to develop novel therapeutic approaches to slow down neurodegeneration through sleep-based interventions.
Focus areas
- AI
- Chronic insomnia
- Dementia
- Neurodegeneration
- Neuroimaging
- Obstructive sleep apnea
- REM sleep behavior disorder
- Restless legs syndrome
Significance to patient care
Dr. Carvalho's work helps healthcare professionals find early warning signs of dementia in older adults who have sleep disorders. By studying brain activity and sleep patterns, he creates tools that can spot who might be at higher risk for diseases such as dementia. This research could lead to new treatments that use better sleep to protect brain health and help people stay sharp as they age.