Research Assistant Professor
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Boca Raton, Florida, United States
Dr. Besser is a Research Assistant Professor at University of Miami’s Comprehensive Center for Brain Health. Her educational background includes a dual-degree Master of Science in Public Health in Epidemiology and Environmental and Occupational Health, and a PhD in City and Regional Planning. Dr. Besser’s research program centers on the intersections between neighborhood built and social environments, healthy aging, and brain health. She is the Principal Investigator on three grant-funded projects on “Longitudinal associations between neighborhood greenspace and brain aging in cognitively normal older adults”, “Objectively measured neighborhood greenness in midlife and late life cognitive and brain imaging outcomes for Alzheimer's disease: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis”, and “Neighborhood segregation and longitudinal change in brain health measures”. In addition, Dr. Besser serves as co-chair on the Social/Structural Determinants of Health Working groups for the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and for the Diversity and Disparities Professional Interest Area for the Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment (ISTAART). The ultimate goal of Dr. Besser’s research is to provide evidence to planners, architects, urban designers, policy makers, and public health professionals (among other disciplines) on the neighborhood and community factors that can help maintain cognitive function into older ages, reduce Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia risk, and allow for healthy aging in place.
Disclosure information not submitted.
Wednesday, November 2, 2022
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM ET