Alireza Salami
Interest
Dr. Alireza Salami’s research focuses on uncovering the neural mechanisms underlying cognitive decline in aging with a particular focus on episodic memory. He has led multiple projects funded by major grant agencies, aiming to build the foundation for future interventions that promote cognitive health in older adulthood. He is the principal investigator of one of the world's largest MRI/PET studies on aging. The Salami Lab centers its research around three key areas:
- Interindividual differences – exploring why some older individuals maintain cognitive function.
- Longitudinal multimodal neuroimaging – leveraging large-scale longitudinal datasets to track structural, functional, and molecular brain changes over time.
- Modifiable neurobiological factors – examining the role of dopamine and other catecholamines as potential targets for pharmacological interventions.
Current Research
The lab investigates the cognitive neuroscience of aging through advanced neuroimaging techniques, including fMRI and PET. We integrate structural, functional, and molecular approaches to understand how brain functional dynamics evolve with age and contribute to cognitive decline. There are distinct lines of ongoing research addressing important questions, such as:
- How does the dopamine system change with age and how do these alterations affect functional dynamics and cognitive decline?
- Does pharmacological intervention targeting catecholamine improve neurocognitive function in older individuals? Does the benefit of the catecholamine drug depend on the baseline dopamine level?
- How do structure constraints relate to functional brain dynamics and how does this repertoire change with aging?
- Can naturalistic neuroimaging unveil the neural mechanisms of age-related memory decline more effectively than traditional task-based paradigms?