Using both epidemiological and brain imaging methods, I am investigating how people with higher cognitive reserve (i.e. higher premorbid IQ's, education, more demanding occupational attainments, or more engagement in cognitive-social-physical leisure activities) can cope better with the damage caused to their brains by AD. I am also exloring how cognitive, behavioral, genetic and imaging characteristics of patients with AD can contribute to clinical heterogeneity and predict subsequent disease course including cognitive-functional decline and risk for death or institutionalization.

More recently, I have developed a special interest in the contribution of diet in AD risk. Recent literature on the effect of individual dietary elements is conflicting. I am investigating the effect of composite dietary patterns (such as the Mediterranean Diet) in AD risk.