Naomi Ferreira, PhD
Researcher and Lecturer
We must raise awareness — especially among underserved communities — about dementia and its risk factors, encouraging prevention and the early pursuit of diagnosis and treatment.
Current Work
Naomi is a researcher in the dementia field living in Brazil and a lecturer at the Amazonia Adventist College. She works with data from the Biobank for Aging Studies, an autopsy study from the University of São Paulo.
Personal Hero
Jesus Christ
Words of Strength
Discipline; adaptability; support; building relationships.
Vision
We must raise awareness — especially among underserved communities — about dementia and its risk factors, encouraging prevention and the early pursuit of diagnosis and treatment.
Strategy
Naomi is conducting research to deepen understanding of dementia risk factors, examining the roles of lifestyle, social determinants, and genetic predisposition, aiming to advance recognition of risk factors that are not yet fully established.
Impact
As an Atlantic Fellow, Naomi wants to strengthen the evidence base on dementia risk factors in Brazil, informing policies and practices that support earlier diagnosis, prevention, and equitable brain health care for older adults.
Motivation
In Brazil, an estimated two million people live with dementia, and prevalence is higher among illiterate individuals. Naomi's research aims to advance the knowledge about social and educational disparities in Brazil to help reduce this gap.
Education & Experience
Naomi completed her PhD in Nutrition and Neuropsychology at the Heart Institute, Medical School, University of São Paulo. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Public Health/Epidemiology, and currently holds a postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropathology and Genetics at the Biobank for Aging Studies, from the University of São Paulo, supported by an Alzheimer's Association Postdoctoral Scholarship. She continues to collaborate with the Biobank for Aging Studies while serving as Coordinator of the Research Affairs Office and Lecturer at the Amazonia Adventist College (FAAMA), in Pará, Brazil."
Awards & Honors
Alzheimer's Association
Alzheimer's Association's Nutrition, Metabolism and Dementia PIA
Paper titled "Association Between Consumption of Ultraprocessed Foods and Cognitive Decline"
Department of Psychology - XXXIV Congress of the Sao Paulo Society of Cardiology
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Naomi
a NoteHave ideas for global brain health or a collaboration? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to send an introductory note.
