Using Advanced Technology to Detect Brain Aging

What biomedical issue did you address in your research, and what did your studies find?

My Ph.D. research explored how the brain changes with age and with chronic medical conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Importantly, I looked at how these changes can be detected before major damage is visible. We used a cutting-edge MRI-based brain imaging technique called neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI), which offers a closer look at the brain's microscopic structure than traditional MRI. I also applied machine learning models to estimate "brain age" based on NODDI measurements and developed scores tailored to specific chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

We found that NODDI can detect early brain changes related to healthy aging and Alzheimer's disease more sensitively than standard scans, and it also reveals distinct patterns of brain damage linked to chronic conditions. While using NODDI to predict overall "brain age" showed some promise, we discovered that creating disease-specific brain health scores is a better way to understand how conditions like diabetes or hypertension affect the brain. The approaches allowed me to show how different diseases uniquely affect the brain, paving the way for more personalized and earlier detection of brain health risks in the future.

What aspects of Mayo's culture helped you grow as a scientist and as a thinker?

The emphasis on mentorship and multidisciplinary teamwork helped me develop critical thinking skills and the ability to evaluate complex problems from multiple perspectives. Moreover, the supportive yet intellectually challenging environment encouraged me to pursue innovative methods and to approach research not just with technical precision, but with curiosity, purpose and humility.

What's next?

My experience at Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has provided me with a strong foundation in scientific inquiry, critical thinking and translational research. I plan to pursue a career as a physician-scientist, integrating clinical care with research to better understand and treat age-related neurological disorders. My goal is to contribute to the development of personalized approaches that preserve brain health and improve patient outcomes.