Luciano Mariano, MS

Luciano is a psychologist, neuropsychologist, and lecturer currently working on a PhD degree in the field of Clinical Neuroscience in partnership with the Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Unit of the UFMG, where he is also a volunteer neuropsychologist.

Personal Hero

My parents, Barack Obama

Words of Strength

Trustworthy, punctual, idealistic, romantic

Vision

Luciano believes we must seek to develop a more inclusive society, understanding differences not as barriers, but as fruitful resources to work with. Equal opportunities mean better health and educational services, essential tools to reduce the impact of dementia in the world.

Strategy

Luciano’s clinical research aims to improve diagnosis and to make cognitive-behavioral evaluation simpler and more accurate. Also, as a lecturer in a community college, he stimulates critical and evidence-based thinking as helpful tools to face challenges in daily life.

Impact

Luciano hopes to learn new methodologies to explore the interface between social determinants, culture, and cognitive-behavioral features of dementia. And he is looking forward to diving into different approaches and practices on how to prevent and cope with dementia.

Motivation

The clinical features of dementia are still misunderstood as part of “normal aging.” Patients and families tend to overlook behavioural alterations – such as apathy and disinhibition – even when such disturbances bring significant burden to them and their community.

Education & Experience

Luciano attained his degree in psychology from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil. At the same university, he completed a postgraduate specialization course, and later, his master’s degree in neuroscience. Currently, he is working on his PhD in the field of clinical neuroscience in partnership with the Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology Unit of the UFMG, where he is also a volunteer neuropsychologist. Luciano is a lecturer at some undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Psychology and Neuropsychology in Belo Horizonte.

Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI)

current

Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil

Neuroscience

Masters degree

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil

Psychology

Bachelors degree