March 15, 2024

Colloquium Topic: Precision Aging: Busting the one-size-fits-all myth

Do we all age the same way, and at the same rate? What happens to my brain as I get older? In this talk, Dr. Ryan will break down some of the most pervasive myths about aging, share new science on brain aging and cognitive changes over the course of our adult lives, and discuss an exciting national study on aging, supported by the National Institute on Aging.

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Colloquium Speaker: Lee Ryan

Lee Ryan received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at the University of British Columbia in 1992 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Ryan is the Head of the Psychology Department and a Professor in the departments of Psychology and Neurology. She is also the Associate Director of the Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute at the University of Arizona.

Dr. Ryan’s research focuses on understanding the brain mechanisms responsible for memory, how memory changes across the adult lifespan, and how those changes relate to brain structure and function.  She is particularly interested in understanding the factors that lead to individual differences in age-related cognitive function, including genetics, cardiovascular health, diet, and exercise. As a clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Ryan has worked with individuals and families who are coping with chronic and progressive diseases including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Ryan teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in memory, neuropsychology, neuroanatomy, and cognitive neuroscience. She has been very active in mentoring programs at the University of Arizona and nationally that encourage women and underrepresented students to pursue a career in science.