She is also Associate Professor in the Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases and Vulnerable Populations. She is a neuroepidemiologist with research interests in cardiovascular disease and the risk for cognitive decline and dementia in middle aged and older adults. Within large-scale epidemiologic studies she has looked at how cardiovascular diseases, such as diabetes and dyslipidemia, are related to cognitive impairment, brain changes and dementia. Her current work is examining the role of cognitive impairment in the performance of self-care activities in patients with chronic diseases such as congestive heart failure.