Publications

Poor sleep health is associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. Some populations—including Black individuals and those with other minoritized racial and ethnic identities—experience inequities in sleep health. The determinants of sleep health inequities are complex and include social, environmental, behavioral, and biological factors. In particular, interpersonal discrimination can contribute to...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a pervasive and common illness that can severely diminish individuals’ quality of life. Among the challenges associated with major depressive disorder, individuals with MDD may have trouble recalling specific memories (a memory of a single event occurring at a specific place and time) in favor of categorical memories (a generalized memory encompassing several distinct episodes)...

Cardiovascular disease and poor sleep are both major health issues for women, with cardiovascular disease representing the leading cause of death in women. Poor sleep quality, elevated insomnia symptoms, and extreme sleep duration (short or long) are all associated with elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Midlife (here defined as 40-65 years old) is often a time of accelerated vascular risk, as well as a time...

Physical activity is beneficial for mental health in older adults. It is effective as a treatment for late-life psychiatric disorders and as a prevention against clinical depression and anxiety. However, questions remain around the frequency, intensity, duration, and type of physical activity that may be most beneficial for mental health in aging, and around the moderating factors—including genetic factors— that...

Negative symptoms of schizophrenia—including apathy, anhedonia, and asociality, as well as blunted affect and alogia—are present during early stages of the disorder, and contribute to marked declines in social and occupational functioning. Few therapeutic options ameliorate negative symptoms, and much remains unknown regarding their neurobiological origins. To improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of...

Neuropsychiatric symptoms including irritability, nighttime disturbances, and agitation are highly prevalent in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Although neuropsychiatric symptoms are clinically well characterized in individuals with Alzheimer’s, scientists have more to learn regarding these symptoms’ neurobiological underpinnings. Investigators including Cristiano Schaffer Aguzzoli, MD (former Pitt...