Research Interests

My research focuses on advancing brain health equity, with a particular emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease, cognitive aging, and culturally responsive methods in neuropsychology. I study how culture, language, and experience shape the way we assess and understand cognitive functioning, and how traditional approaches can fall short for culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

My work integrates clinical, community, and scientific perspectives to address long-standing disparities in brain health. Rather than viewing differences in performance as deficits, I aim to understand why these differences emerge and how they can be better interpreted to improve diagnosis, care, and quality of life across diverse communities.

Click here for a list of publications.

Core Areas of Research

Brain Health Equity

I investigate how structural and systemic factors — including language, culture, education, and access to care — influence cognitive aging and risk for neurodegenerative disease. Much of my work explores disparities in diagnosis and outcomes for historically underrepresented groups.

Why this matters: Standard cognitive assessments often fail to account for cultural and linguistic diversity, which can lead to misdiagnosis and delayed care. My research seeks to create more equitable approaches that reflect people’s lived experiences.

Alzheimer’s Disease & Neurodegenerative Disorders

My research examines how Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias present across diverse populations, with the goal of improving early detection and culturally informed interventions.

Why this matters: Alzheimer’s disease is a global health challenge. Yet, many screening tools and diagnostic models were developed in culturally homogeneous samples. This limits their effectiveness when applied in diverse communities.

Culturally Responsive Neuropsychological Methods

I develop and evaluate assessment tools and research methods that honor cultural and linguistic differences. This includes adapting measures, studying measurement validity, and integrating community insights into research design.

Why this matters: Better measurement leads to better science, better clinical decisions, and ultimately, better health outcomes.

Community-Engaged Research Partnerships

My research is rooted in authentic collaboration with communities. I work with community organizations, clinicians, and older adults to co-design and implement research that is locally relevant, respectful, and actionable.

Why this matters: Research done with communities—not on them—produces insights that are more relevant, respectful, and more likely to be translated into real-world impact.

Current Projects & Initiatives

• A Precision Engagement Approach with Hispanics/Latinos for Alzheimer’s Disease Research
  • Collaborating with community partners to co-develop a multi-media toolkit to provide brain health information in a culturally relevant manner
• Precision Recruitment for Precision Medicine
  • Investigating how participants recruited via community-engaged approaches differ from clinic-based approaches
• Cognitive Abilities in Normal Aging Study
  • Exploring how cultural and linguistic factors influence brain health and memory performance

What Guides My Research

• A commitment to everyday relevance and social impact
• A belief that science must reflect lived experience
• A dedication to training future scientists who prioritize equity