Work in my lab is focused on how an individuals’ genetic makeup impacts their risk for Alzheimer’s disease, as well as their age at symptom onset and the rate of disease progression. The goal of our research is to use a combination of genetic variation, demographics, and environmental factors to predict disease risk, age at onset, and progression rate. We are also interested in how disease mechanisms and risk factors differ among ethnic groups, particularly between Mexican Americans and non-Hispanic whites. Research in our group is highly collaborative and active projects are ongoing with labs and scientists across the state and nation.
A second area of research we are interested in is how an individual gut bacteria profile may impact risk for neurodegeneration and the age at onset of cognitive decline.