Emilie Reas, PhD

The mediating role of bloodbrain barrier dysfunction in effects of systemic inflammation on brain microstructure and memory

Dr. Reas’ lab uses advanced brain imaging methods to develop biomarkers of early Alzheimer’s disease and to characterize the neurobiological changes leading to brain aging and dementia. Although inflammation and vascular dysfunction are risk factors for dementia, it remains unclear how they promote cognitive decline. Given the brain’s privileged protection from the periphery by the “blood-brain barrier,” the ways by which systemic inflammation affects the brain remains a critical unanswered question. Her project aims to examine relationships of blood-borne inflammatory factors with microstructural brain injury and memory, and to determine if a leaky blood-brain barrier mediates these associations. She will also evaluate whether individuals with high genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease show stronger connections between inflammation and brain microstructure, vascular leakage, and memory impairment. Findings are expected to clarify how inflammation and vascular dysfunction accelerate brain aging, and to guide development of therapeutic approaches to optimize cognitive health with age.