Memory, aging, diversity: Insights on Alzheimer's from TMU’s leading expert
From personal testimonies to nationwide strategies, the Alzheimer Society of Canada (external link) raises awareness of the complex experiences of people living with dementia and provides resources and initiatives to better support Canadians with Alzheimer’s disease. During Alzheimer's Awareness Month (external link) each January, people are encouraged to educate themselves to help fight the stigma associated with neurodegenerative diseases, reinforce the importance of human rights and promote policy changes that will benefit and increase the quality of life for individuals living with dementia.
Psychology professor Natasha Rajah has dedicated herself to studying neuroscience—particularly aging, memory and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s (external link) and other forms of dementia. Using neuroimaging and cognitive testing, she explores how age and dementia (external link) manifest in the brain and how factors such as biological sex, health and lifestyle, and sociocultural gender affect cognitive brain aging.
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Brain imaging / Pexels
A Tier 1 Chair in Sex, Gender and Diversity in Brain Health, Memory and Aging at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), Natasha Rajah brings multidisciplinary research and rigour to the forefront. As the Principal Investigator of the Brain Health Equity in Aging and Memory (BHEAM) Lab (external link) , Rajah oversees an impressive team of researchers dedicated to studying the cognitive neuroscience of memory, aging and dementia prevention to support the development of new therapeutic approaches and policies to optimize brain health, memory function, and delay the onset of Alzheimer’s Disease.
At the BHEAM Lab, Rajah’s team is currently examining how sex-specific reproductive health experiences in females might contribute to their increased likelihood of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. With funding support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (external link) and the Canada Research Chair (external link) , the BHEAM Lab is examining whether common menopausal symptoms like brain fog and memory dysfunction could indicate a higher non-modifiable risk for cognitive decline and age-related diseases such as dementia. While the connection between reproductive and chronological aging is often overlooked, Rajah’s research actively examines their relationship. For Rajah, understanding women’s brain health during menopause is crucial for recognizing when neurodegenerative diseases manifest and how preventative care can be taken.
The growing need for diversity representation in Alzheimer’s research
“One of the key areas in which my research on aging and Alzheimer’s Disease has grown is in investigations of how sex and gender, and social determinants of health affect healthy and pathological aging,” Rajah shared. Data indicates that nearly two-thirds of Alzheimer’s cases occur in women, with historically marginalized communities experiencing even higher rates of prevalence. However, a significant knowledge gap remains regarding the reasons for these differences in prevalence rates.
Rajah noted that studies on women’s brain health often focus on a limited demographic, primarily consisting of women from Western, educated, industrialized, and democratic countries. The lack of diversity among women in research studies can obscure how ethnocultural background, lifestyle, socioeconomic status, and access to healthcare, among other factors, influence menopause and brain aging. Rajah emphasized that equitable research must also account for how comparative analyses between majority and underrepresented groups may unintentionally position the majority group as the “normative" standard despite not being representative of a diverse population.
Society is becoming increasingly aware of the sex, gender, ethnocultural, and sociodemographic factors that influence Alzheimer’s Disease risk and are asking for more research that is representative of Canada's diverse population.
The Brain Health at Midlife and Menopause (BHAMM) Study (external link) , conducted by Rajah and her team, seeks to recruit a representative group of participants to bridge a gap in understanding differences in brain health amongst diverse ethnocultural and socioeconomic demographics. Rajah’s research not only seeks to elucidate disparities in health outcomes but also inform the future trajectory of Alzheimer’s research. “I hope this work influences funding bodies and the government to see that there is an urgent need for investment in developing a more inclusive understanding of what social, environmental and biological factors imbue risk and resilience for Alzheimer’s Disease across socio-demographic and ethnoculturally diverse communities,” shared Rajah.
The BHEAM Lab is committed to using multidisciplinary methods to study cognitive aging across the adult lifespan in diverse samples of females and males to identify how sex, gender, and specific risk factors for Alzheimer’s Disease affect memory and brain function. Researchers like Rajah are crucial in advancing the understanding of Alzheimer’s, particularly underscoring the need for more inclusive research that considers sex, gender, and diverse sociocultural factors.
“I am passionate about supporting the next generation of cognitive neuroscience of memory, aging, and Alzheimer’s Disease prevention researchers,” Rajah remarked. “As principal investigator of the BHEAM Lab, I provide the research and mentoring resources to ensure the long-term career success of my trainees.”
The BHEAM Lab, located in the heart of downtown Toronto, embodies TMU’s dedication to promoting justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in research. For individuals interested in participating in the study, please visit the enrolment site: The Brain Health at Midlife and Menopause (BHAMM) Study (external link) .