RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
NIH funded study to examine extreme heat and dementia related outcomes
In 2025, Dr. Besser (Principal Investigator) was awarded a $3.7 million 5-year grant from the National Institute on Aging (R01AG091414) to study how extreme heat affects Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia outcomes. This will be the first known study to determine associations between cumulative urban heat exposure and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia (ADRD) risk factors, MRI biomarkers, and cognitive outcomes. We will investigate the potential mechanisms linking urban heat island exposure to ADRD related outcomes. Findings that greenspaces may reduce the harmful influence of extreme heat on ADRD risk would support targeted interventions for heat reduction and ADRD prevention for the neighborhoods and populations most vulnerable to climate change.
The study is in collaboration with co-Investigators from University of Miami (Deirdre O’Shea, James E. Galvin) and investigators from Florida Atlantic University (Diana Mitsova, Lun-Ching Chang, Kevin Cresswell) and Washington State University (Diane Cook, Bryan Minor). Read more about the study.
Our research is elucidating the types of neighborhood environments that influence brain health and Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia risk, as well as the underlying mechanisms, to ultimately guide future urban plans, policies, and interventions for brain health promotion.
Our team uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS), a powerful mapping and spatial analytics tool. We utilize GIS tools and data to generate maps and conduct spatial analyses, enabling us to effectively visualize and examine the unequal distribution of greenspace and other health-promoting built environments. GIS integrates various types of data to create detailed maps and visualizations, providing insights through spatial relationships, patterns, and trends.