Department of Epidemiology

Epidemiology of Brain Resilience to Aging

University of Pittsburgh eBRAIN Group

The eBRAIN research group coordinates and analyzes studies that focus on the interplay between brain integrity and function in a variety of neuroepidemiological studies. We apply brain imaging methods in population studies, study risk factors, utilize cognitive and mobility measures, characterize central & peripheral contributors to function.

When Research Funding Disappears, So Does the Promise Made to Participants

A recent investigation from The Guardian (Sept. 17, 2026) is a sobering reminder of how research funding decisions ripple far beyond a grant number on a spreadsheet. What happened: A federally funded study examining Alzheimer's disease risk among roughly 600 older...
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Congratulations to Dr. Phillips on Her Latest Publication!

We're proud to spotlight PNA postdoctoral trainee Dr. Meredith Phillips, whose newest paper, "Objective, Relative, and Subjective Measures of Socioeconomic Status and White Matter Hyperintensities: A Cross-sectional Analysis in Midlife Adults," was just published in...
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$40 Million and Counting

What NIH Grant Terminations Mean for Pitt's Alzheimer's Research Another round of federal funding cuts has landed close to home. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Aug. 6, 2026) reports that the NIH has unexpectedly ended two more research grants at the University of...
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Summer social, sunny smiles!

Another great PNA Summer Social! It's always fun to come together as a group outside of the usual work routine, having a chance to share and celebrate updates and milestones along the way!
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AAIC 2026

Huge congratulations to our Epidemiology PhD students on their poster presentations! 🎉 eBRAIN members Daniel and Yan were able to present at this year's Alzheimer’s Association International Conference held in London! Featured above, Dr. Beth Shaaban and Yan Wang with...
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Autism, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s- Connected?

Congratulations to eBrain Faculty Dr. Andrea Rosso on a significant new publication! The study, led by Jessica Rast of Drexel University, analyzed approximately 600,000 records and found that individuals with both Alzheimer's disease-related dementia and Parkinson's...
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Addressing Gender/Sex Differences in the Wicked Problem of Dementia

eBRAIN's Dr. Beth Shaaban recently presented at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) 2026 in London. Her session, "Addressing Gender/Sex Differences in the Wicked Problem of Dementia with the Population Neuroscience–Dementia Syndemics...
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New Research from eBRAIN Faculty

eBRAIN Faculty Dr. Caterina Rosano points to a fascinating link between the brain and muscle health as we age. In her latest paper, Striatal Dopamine and Skeletal Muscle Energy Metabolism in Older Adults, Dr. Rosano and her team explore whether dopamine (a chemical...
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From MS to PhD: Congratulations, Dr. Hu!

We are thrilled to celebrate PNA member Dr. Chen Hu on the successful defense of her dissertation, Determinants and Optimization of Disability Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis: Applications of Markov Models and Causal Inference Framework!! Her research uses real-world...
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Ian Troidl Co-Authors New Study in JAMA Internal Medicine

Exciting new research from our team published in JAMA Internal Medicine! A recently published study titled "Homicide Risk During 10-Day Waiting Period Among First-Time Handgun Purchasers in California" of over 1 million first-time handgun purchasers in California...
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