What insights can be gained from epidemiology in the study of neurodegenerative disorders? In this insightful conversation with Dr. Beth Shaaban, we explore the interdisciplinary study of population neuroscience and how to address dementia from a public health and policy lens. Sharing deep insights from working with patients, outreach, research and public health organizations, Dr. Shaaban bridges these normally siloed topics with ease. Tune into this episode that will enrich your understanding of population neuroscience. Over two episodes, Dr. Shaaban covers essential topics such as building resistance and resilience to disorders and addressing issues of health access in equitable ways for diverse populations. The insights from these episodes will enrich your understanding of both epidemiology and neuroscience.

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Dr. Beth Shaaban is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health and the Associate Core Leader of the University of Pittsburgh ADRC Outreach, Recruitment, and Engagement (ORE) Core. She integrates epidemiology, biostatistics, neuroscience/ neuroimaging, and psychology to study vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID), including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), using a Population Neuroscience framework. Her research focuses on identifying promoters of cerebral small vessel integrity to prevent AD and related disorders and has included evaluation of growth factors, physical activity, and vascular risk factor reduction. Her present work includes an NIA-funded K01 award applying a Population Neuroscience approach to evaluate gender/sex influences on the cerebral small vessel disease-to-AD cascade and evaluation of cognition and brain health in people with a history of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. She has an interest in analytic and recruitment/inclusion approaches to enhance external validity. Her aim is to gain insight into gender-related and sex-specific intervention targets to reduce AD and promote brain health equity.

You may contact Dr. Shaaban through:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethshaaban/

X: https://x.com/PopNeurosci

Website: https://www.publichealth.pitt.edu/directory/c-elizabeth-shaaban

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Dr. Jaya Viswanathan is a neuroscientist, author, and artist born and raised in India. She earned an engineering degree, a Master’s in neuroscience, and a Doctorate in cognitive neuroscience. Since her post-doctoral fellowship, she continues to deepen her neuroscientific expertise as a contractor at the National Institutes of Health. She was inspired to illustrate and write Baby Senses: A Sensory Neuroscience Primer for All Ages to convey complex scientific concepts through art and whimsy in terms of sensory “superpowers”. She has been interviewed on written, audio/podcasts, and video platforms where she makes neuroscience accessible to lay audiences. Tune into her podcast “Know Brainer” and other projects through which she disseminates science via https://babysensesbook.com/.