Natascha Merten, PhD
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JAD profile
Associate Editor
Term Expiration:
12/31/2024
Affiliation(s):
Department of Population Health Sciences and Department of Medicine; School of Medicine and Public Health; University of Wisconsin-Madison
ORCID URL:
Areas of Interest:
sensory aging, cognitive decline, dementia, Healthy Brain Aging, biomarkers
Biography & Research:
As a psychologist (MS) and aging epidemiologist (PhD) by training Dr. Merten’s research focuses on human brain aging. She aims to assess aging with a holistic approach through investigating general aging processes that affect multiple domains of brain aging focusing on sensory and cognitive aging and dementia. She considers risk factors of Alzheimer’s pathology and inflammation, vascular and metabolic systems to identify common pathways of neurodegeneration and brain aging. In this context, she also wants to investigate early biomarkers of aging to identify individuals at risk for decline in various health conditions. In addition, she aims to assess potentially modifiable risk factors of brain aging with a particular focus on the roles of psychosocial and behavioral factors. Understanding shared etiological pathways and identifying common modifiable risk factors has the potential to improve prevention and treatment strategies for a wide range of age-related diseases.
