I study how social structures—including labor markets, neighborhoods, and social relationships—shape health inequality across the life course. My work examines how exposure to structural disadvantage affects cognitive aging, caregiving, and end-of-life outcomes. In addition to my primary research on dementia and racial disparities in healthcare, I lead several projects focused on policy-relevant questions in population health.

Labor Force Policies and Cognitive Aging

I lead a series of studies examining how changes in women’s labor market opportunities and occupational patterns influence cognitive health and disparities in dementia risk. Using harmonized longitudinal data from the United States (including the Health and Retirement Study), this work asks whether the dramatic expansion of women’s labor force participation over recent decades has contributed to improved cognitive aging at the population level and reduced gender gaps in dementia. By exploring how shifts in occupation, workplace conditions, and job stability relate to cognitive outcomes, these studies offer policy-relevant evidence on the long-term returns to closing gender gaps in work and education. The findings have implications for labor policy, retirement security, and strategies aimed at promoting healthy cognitive aging in diverse populations.

Segregation and Neighborhood Effects on Cognitive Decline

In collaboration with colleagues in the United States and Europe, I am investigating how life-long exposure to economic and racial segregation shapes cognitive trajectories and risk of dementia in later life. Leveraging rich, geocoded data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and international partners, this research examines how the timing, duration, and intensity of neighborhood disadvantage affect brain health over the life course. By identifying critical periods and pathways through which structural disadvantage becomes biologically embedded, this work provides essential evidence for urban policy, housing interventions, and social programs targeting neighborhood inequality. The goal is to inform efforts to design healthier, more equitable communities and reduce disparities in cognitive aging.

Caregiving and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This project addresses urgent questions about the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic for family and non-family caregivers, particularly those caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Drawing on nationally representative survey data, we quantify the heightened psychological distress, social isolation, and emotional burden faced by caregivers during the pandemic. The research seeks to inform mental health policy, caregiving supports, and emergency preparedness by identifying which groups were most affected and what types of interventions could mitigate long-term harm. The work has direct implications for healthcare systems and policy responses in times of crisis, as well as for the design of support programs for caregivers—an increasingly vital segment of the population as societies age.

Social Relationships and End-of-Life Planning

Across several ongoing projects, I examine how the structure and quality of social ties—friendships, marital histories, estrangement, and social isolation—influence engagement in advance care planning (ACP) and preferences for end-of-life care. This research moves beyond traditional family-based models to recognize the growing diversity of older adults’ social lives, including those who are single, widowed, or estranged from family. By identifying the barriers and facilitators to effective ACP among socially isolated or non-traditionally networked individuals, my work provides policy-relevant guidance for designing interventions, healthcare practices, and public messaging that address the needs of all older adults—not just those with robust family support. The ultimate goal is to ensure autonomy and quality of care at the end of life, regardless of social circumstances.