Assistant Professor
School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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.
Dr. Natascha Merten is a Scientist in the Okonkwo Lab within the Department of Medicine and Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is also an Honorary Affiliate in the Department of Population Health Sciences and the Center for Demography of Health and Aging and a member of the McPherson Eye Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Merten is the Director of the EpiSense Program within the Department of Population Health Sciences and her leadership and mentoring skills have been awarded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Postdoctoral Association Postdoc Excellence Award in Mentoring. Within the GSA’s Emerging Scholar and Professional Organization, Dr. Merten has become engaged as the chair of the Dissertation Writing Group. Her research expertise has recently been acknowledged by aninvitation to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders Expert Panel to update the Strategic Research Plan for 2022-2027.
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Thursday, November 3, 2022
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET
Thursday, November 3, 2022
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET