Associate Professor of Epidemiology
Center for Aging and Population Health
Graduate School of Public Health
130 N. Bellefield Street, Room 507
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Phone: (412) 383-1294
Fax: (412) 383-1308
http://www.caph.pitt.edu
E-mail: rosanoc@edc.pitt.edu

• International Innovation is the leading global dissemination resource for the wider scientific, technology and research communities, dedicated to disseminating the latest science, research and technological innovations on a global level. www.researchmedia.eu

• The department of Epidemiology is launching a new Specialization in Neuroepidemiology and a new course in Neuroepidemiology, EPI2012. The requirements for the Specialization in Neuroepidemiology are listed here. The EPI2012 course is very practical and interactive: as a class we work our way from a research question to draft a study design and along the way each trainee learns about existing neuroepidemiological databases that might help answer such questions. We spend 2/3 of the course working on this process and a report of this work is the final assignment. Only 1/3 of the course consists of lectures and each lecture is but an example of how the application of epi methods can sustain etiological research of neuropsychiatric diseases.

General Description

Dr. Rosano has obtained her MD from the School of Medicine, Palermo, Italy, in 1995 and her Master in Epidemiology from the Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh in 2003. Dr Rosano has received her training in Neuroscience as a postdoctoral fellow at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami in 1996-98. Her research focused on the neuroregenerative potential of the gray and white matter of the central nervous system. As a research associate in the department of Neurobehavioral studies at the University of Pittsburgh, (1999, 2001) she used functional Brain MRI technique to investigate the human brain performance and sensorimotor integration in young and older adults. From 2001-2004, Dr. Rosano has conducted research as a National Institute on Aging Fellow in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh, focusing on the epidemiology of age-related brain functional impairment. Dr. Rosano is the PI of the e-BRAIN research group and the PI of the Area of Concentration in Neuroepidemiology of Motor Control within the CAPH.

Research Description

I have a long standing interest in understanding how the brain adapts to the “normal” processes of aging. This is based on the peculiar observation that some older adults age spectacularly well, while others decline very rapidly. I am specifically interested in understanding the causes, biomarkers and consequences of brain aging. My goal is to identify the modifiers of brain function and structure and their implications to promote survival free of physical disability and dementia. My enthusiasm toward the study of brain aging is rooted in my background in Medicine and in Neuroscience. My research approach is grounded on the application of cutting-edge methods of neuroimaging, mobility and cognitive measures to epidemiological cohorts’ and randomized clinical trials studies. . In partnership with the GPN, I apply neuroimaging methods to numerous epidemiological studies. The application of the most advanced neuroimaging technology to large epidemiological studies of aging makes my research most innovative and of great potential impact. Collectively, my studies constitute a unique and novel resource comprising large datasets of detailed brain and functional markers from several hundreds of individuals. I expect that these data will augment our understanding of brain aging and that they will contribute to the discovery of new approaches to the promotion of survival free from disabilities.


For a description of our conceptual model please click here, to see our trainees work click here.

For a description of our e-BRAIN projects please click here.


In the News

• http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/09/health/keeping-brain-young-memory/index.html?hpt=he_c1



• http://www.epidemiology.pitt.edu/News/News_Display.asp?link=458



• http://www.aarp.org/health/fitness/info-04-2011/high-blood-pressure-and-slower-walking-speed.html



• http://www.healthinaging.org/agingintheknow/research_print.asp?id=166



• http://public.nhlbi.nih.gov/newsroom/home/GetPressRelease.aspx?id=2766



• http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/another-reason-to-keep-moving/



• http://www.aging.pitt.edu/newsletter.htm - Winter 2007



• http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Alzheimers/2007/7-07-06-AlzheimersRisk.htm



• http://www.pepper.pitt.edu/content.asp?id=587



• www.physweekly.com. - Volume 22, Issue 26

Research Support: Active

• "Aging, the Central Nervous System, and Mobility in Older Adults". 1U13AG041613-01; Rosano (dual-PI); NIA/NINDS; 2012-2015;
• "Resilience to mobility impairment: neural correlates and protective factors." 1R01AG037451-01A1; Rosano (dual-PI) NIA; 9/1/11-8/31/2016
• "Molecular Aging of the Human Brain: Genetic Modulation and Functional Outcomes" 1R01MH093723-01; Sibille (PI) NIMH; 06/01/2011-05/01/2016
• "Imaging biomarkers of accelerated brain aging in Type-1 Diabetes" RO1DK089028; Rosano (PI); NIDDK 10/01/2010 - 09/30/2014
• "Brain anatomical correlates of mobility control in the oldest old ".1 R01 AG029232; Rosano (PI); NIA/NINDS; 9/1/07-8/31/2012
• Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center (OAIC).P30 AG024827-06; Studenski, (PI); Rosano (Research Core-leader) NIA; 09/30/2009 - 08/31/2014
• Geriatric Research in Ambulatory and Cognitive Excellence (GRACE); University of Pittsburgh Research Council Rosano(PI) 09/2009-08/2012
• "Influence of White Matter Damage On Step Initiation".R01-AG031118-01A2; Sparto (PI); NIA;2008-08/2012
• "The influence of a dancing intervention on neurocognitive function in postmenopausal healthy women"; Claude Pepper Pilot; Rosano (Dual-PI) 2010-2012
• "A neuroimaging study to measure the association of baseline cerebral blood flow and micro-structural brain characteristics with response to physical activity intervention in the LIFE-main participants". Claude Pepper Developmental and NIA contract (263-MA-706016); Rosano (dual-PI) ; 2010-2012

Research Support: Completed

• P30AG0248247-06- Claude D Pepper Center Career development:      Rosano
• R03 AG025076       Rosano (PI)
• 1 K23 AG028966       Rosano
• HHSN311201000281P       Rosano(PI)
• 263-MA706016       Rosano (PI)
• MRRC01       Rosano (PI)
• P30AG0248247-06- Pilot:      Rosano (PI)

Teaching

• Director of EPI 2250 Epidemiology Seminar Series, "The Tipping Point"
• EPI 2981 Epidemiology of Aging-Methods
• MSTAR program mentor (www.mstar.pitt.edu)
• PhD/MD Program Director for Epidemiology. Please visit https://www.mdphd.pitt.edu/

Honors (Since 2002)

• First prize in the Junior Faculty category at the Celebrating Research on Aging Day, University of Pittsburgh Institute on Aging
  
  
• NIA Bedside-to-Bench Conference Thinking, Moving and Feeling, Travel award American Geriatric Society
  
  
• Career award grant accepted for funding through Pittsburgh Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center Grant
  
  
• Merck / American Geriatric Society New Investigator Award for new and relevant work in geriatrics.
  
  
• Award from the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) for best Scientific Presentation at Dean's Day, University of Pittsburgh, PA
  
  
• Award from the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH) for best Scientific Presentation at Dean's Day, University of Pittsburgh, PA
  
  
• Travel award to participate to the Society for Neuroscience Conference in San Diego,
  
  
• Award from the Graduate School of Public Health (GSPH), University of Pittsburgh, PA

Selected Publications

1. Rosano C, Longstreth WT Jr, Boudreau R, Taylor CA, Du Y, Kuller LH, Newman AB. High blood pressure accelerates gait slowing in well-functioning older adults over 18-years of follow-up. J Am Geriatr Sc. 2011 Mar; 59(3): 390-7.
2. Fioccoo AJ, Kanaya AM, Lindquist KM, Harris T, Satterfield S, Simonsick EM, Kuller L, Rosano C, Yaffe K. Plasma F2-isoprostane level and cognitive function over eight years in non-demented older adults: Findings from the Health ABC Study. Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids. 2011 Feb; 84(1-2): 57-61.
3. Studenski S, Perea S, Patel K, Rosano C, Faulkner K, Inzitari M, Brach J, Chandler J, Cawthon P, Connor EB, Nevitt M, Visser M, Kritchevsy S, Badinelli S, Harris T, Newman AB, Cauley J, Ferrucci L, Guralnik J. Gait speed and survival in older adults. JAMA. 2011 Jan; 305(1): 50-8.
4. Watson NL, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Youk AO, Boudreau RM, Mackey RH, Simonsick EM, Rosano C, Hardy SE, Windham BG, Harris TB, Najjar SS, Lakatta EG, Atkinson HH, Johnson KC, Bauer DC, Newman A. Arterial stiffness and gait speed in older adults with and without peripheral arterial disease. Am J Hypertens. 2011 Jan; 24(1): 90-5.
5. Rosano C, Venkatraman VK, Guralnik J, Newman AB,. Glynn NW, Launer L, Taylor CA, Williamson J, Studenski S, Pahor M, Aizenstein HJ. Psychomotor Speed and Functional Brain MRI 2 Years After Completing a Physical Activity Treatment. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2010 Jun;65(6):639-47.
6. Venkatraman VK, Aizenstein H, Guralnik J, Newman AB, Glynn NW, Taylor C, Studenski S, Launer L, Pahor M, Williamson J, Rosano C. Executive control function, brain activation and white matter hyperintensities in older adults. NeuroImage. 2010 Feb.; 49(4):3436-42.
7. VanSwearing JM, Perera S, Brach JS, Cham R, Rosano C, Studenski SA. A Randomized Trial of Two Forms of Therapeutic Activity to Improve Walking: Effect on the Energy Cost of Walking. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2009 Nov; 64(11): 1190-8.
8. Yaffe K, Fiocco AJ, Lindquist K, Vittinghoff E, Simonsick EM, Newman AB, Satterfield S, Rosano C, Rubin SM, Ayonayon HN, Harris TB. Predictors of maintaining cognitive function in older adults: The Health ABC Study. Neurology. 2009 Jun 9; 72(23): 2029-35.
9. Soreca I, Rosano C, Jennings JR, Sheu LK, Kuller LH, Matthews KA, Aizenstein HJ, Gianaros PJ. Gain in adiposity across 15 years is associated with reduced gray matter volume in health women. Psychosom. 2009 May ;71(5):485-490.
10. Kanaya AM, Lindquist K, Harris TB, Launer L, Rosano C, Satterfield S, Yaffe K; Health ABC Study. Total and regional adiposity and cognitive change in older adults: The Health, Aging and Body Composition Study. Arch Neurol. 2009 Mar; 66(3): 329-35.
11. Rosano C, Sigurdsson S, Siggeirsdottir K, Phillips C, Garcia M, Jonsson P, Eiriksdottir G, Newman A, Harris T, van Buchem M, Gudnason V, Launer L. Magnetization transfer imaging, white matter hyperintensities, brain atrophy and slower gain in older men and women. Neurobiol Aging. 2010 Jul;31(7):1197-204
12. Inzitari M, Studenski S, Rosano C, Zakai N, Longstreth W, Cushman M, Newman AB. Anemia is associated with the progression of white matter disease in older adults with high blood pressure: the Cardiovascular Health Study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Oct;56(10):1867-72.
13. Rosano C, Aizenstein H, Brach J, Longenberger A, Studenski S, Newman AB. Gait measures indicate underlying focal gray matter atrophy in the brain of older adults. J Gerontol A Biol Med Sci. 2008 Dec.; 63(12):1380-8.
14. Rosano C, Newman AB, Katz R, Hirsch C, Kuller L. Lower Digit Symbol Substitution Test score and slower gait are associated with greater risk of mortality and of developing incident disability in well functioning older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008 Sept.; 56(9):1618-25.
15. Sparto P, Aizenstein H, VanSwearingen J, Rosano C, Perera S, Studenski S, Furman J, Redfern M. Delays in auditory-cued step initiation are related to increased volume of white matter hyperintensities in older adults. Experimental Brain Research. 2008;188:633-640.
16. Yaffe K, Lindquist K, Shlipak MG, Simonsick E, Fried L, Rosano C, Satterfield S, Atkinson H, Windham BG, Kurella-Tamura M. Cystatin C as a marker of cognitive function in elders: findings from the health ABC study. Ann Neurol. 2008 Jun;63(6):798-802.
17. Mast BT, Miles T, Penninx BW, Yaffe K, Rosano C, Satterfield S, Ayonayon HN, Harris T, Simonsick EM. Vascular Disease and Future Risk of Depressive Symptomatology in Older Adults: Findings from Health, Aging and Body Composition. Biol Psychiatry 2008:64(4):320-326.
18. Yaffe K, Kanaya A, Lindquist K, Hsueh W, Cummings S, Beamer B, Newman A, Rosano C, Li R, Harris T. PPAR-gamma Pro12Ala genotype and risk of cognitive decline in elders. Neurobiol Aging 2008;29(1):78-83.
19. Holden K, Lindquist K, Tylavsky F, Rosano C, Harris B, Yaffe D. Serum leptin level and cognition in the elderly: Findings from the Health ABC Study. Neurobiol Aging 2008 Mar 19 [Epub ahead of print].
20. Atkinson H, Rosano C, Simonsick E, Williamson J, Davis C, Ambrosius W, Rapp S, Cesari M, Newman AB, Harris T, Rubin S, Yaffe K, Satterfield S, Kritchevsky, S. Cognitive function, gait speed decline, and comorbidities: the health, aging and body composition study. J Gerontol A Biol Med Sci 2007;62(8):844-50.
21. Rosano C, Brach J, Studenski S, Longstreth Jr WT, Newman AB. Gait variability is associated with subclinical brain vascular abnormalities in high functioning older adults. Neuroepidemiology 2007;29(3-4):193-200.
22. Inzitari M, Newman AB, Yaffe K, Boudreau R, de Rekeneire N, Shorr R, Harris, TB, Rosano C. Gait Speed Predicts Decline In Attention And Psychomotor Speed In Older Adults: the Health Aging And Body Composition Study. Neuroepidemiology 2007;29(3-4):156-162.
23. Rosano C, Aizenstein HA, Studenski S, Newman AB. A regions-of-Interest Volumetric Analysis of Mobility Limitations in Community-Dwelling Older Adults. J Gerontol A Biol Med Sci 2007;62(9):1048-55.
24. Rosano C, Aizenstein HA, Wu M, Newman AB, Becker J, Lopez OL, Kuller LH. Focal Atrophy and Cerebrovascular Disease Increase Dementia Risk among Cognitively Normal Older Adults. Neuroimaging 2007;17(2):148-55.
25. Faulkner KA, Redfern MS, Cauley JA, Landsittel DP, Studenski S, Rosano C, et al. For the Health Aging and Body Composition Study. Multi-tasking: Association of poorer performance and a history of recurrent falls. J Am Geriatr Soc 2007;55 (4):570-6.
26. Brenes G, Kritchevsky S, Mehta K, Yaffe K, Simonsick E, Ayonayon H, Rosano C, Rubin S, Satterfield S, Penninx B. Scared to Death: results from the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2007 Mar 15(3):262-265.
27. Wu M., Rosano C, Lopez-Garcia P, Carter C, Aizenstein H. Optimum template selection for Atlas-based segmentation. Neurolmage. 2007 Feb. 34(4):1612-8.
28. Rosano C, Newman, AB, Cardiovascular disease and risk of Alzheimer's disease. Neurol Res. 2006 Sep;28(6):612-20.
29. Wu M., Rosano C, Butters M, Whyte E, Crooks R, Meltzer C, Reynolds C, III, Aizenstein H. Automated method for quantifying and localizing white matter hyperintensities on MR images. Psychiatry Research:Neuroimaging. 2006 Dec; 148(2-3):133-42.
30. Rosano C, Brach J, Longstreth W Jr., Newman AB. Quantitative measures of gait characteristics indicate prevalence of underlying subclinical structural brain abnormalities in high-functioning older adults. Neuroepidemiology. 2006 Feb 26(1):52-60.
31. Sudore RL, Yaffe K, Satterfield S, Harris TB, Mehta KM, Simonsick EM, Newman AB, Rosano C, Rooks R, Rubin SM, Ayonayon HN, Schillinger D. Limited literacy and mortality in the elderly: the health, aging, and body composition study.J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Aug;21(8):806-12.
32. Sudore RL, Mehta KM, Simonsick EM, Harris TB, Newman AB, Satterfield S, Rosano C, Rooks RN, Rubin SM, Ayonayon HN, Yaffe K. Limited literacy in older people and disparities in health and healthcare access. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 May;54(5):770-6.
33. Pope SK, Kritchevsky SB, Ambrosone C, Stewart S, Yaffe K, Tylavsky FA, Simonsick E, Rosano C, Harris TB. Myeloperoxidase Polymorphism and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study. American J. of Epidemiology, 2006 Jun 15;163(12):1084-90.
34. Rosano C, Aizenstein H, Cochran J, Saxton J, et al. Functional neuroimaging indicators of successful executive control in the oldest old. NeuroImage 2005 Dec;28(4):881-9.
35. Koster A, Newman AB, Yaffe K, Rosano C, et al. Socio-economic differences in cognitive decline and the role of biomedical factors. Annals of Neuroepidemiology 2005 Sep;15(8):564-571.
36. Rosano C, Aizenstein H, Cochran J, Saxton J, et al. Functional Magnetic Resonance patterns of activation in individuals affected by mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Biological Psychiatry 57(7): 761-7.
37. Faulkner K, Rosano C, Cauley J, Redfern M, Newman AB. Reciprocal influence of concurrent walking and cognitive testing on performance in older adults Gait Posture. 2005 Sep; 24(2):182-9.
38. Rosano C, Newman AB, Kuller L, Carter C, Lopez O, Becker J, Aizenstein H Morphometric analysis of gray matter volume in demented older adults: exploratory analysis of the cardiovascular health study brain MRI database Neuroepidemiology, 2005; 24(4):221-229.
39. Rosano C, Kuller L, Arnold AM, Chung H, Longstreth W Jr, Newman AB. MRI study of brain lesions as predictors of physical functional decline in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2005 Apr;53(4):649-54.
40. Rosano C, Naydeck B, Kuller L, Newman AB. Is coronary artery calcification associated with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain abnormalities and dementia? J Am Geriatr Soc 2005 Apr;53(4):609-15.
41. Rosano C, Simonsick EM, Harris T, Brach J, et al. Association between motor and cognitive performance in well-functioning elderly. Neuroepidemiology 2005; 24:8-14
42. Rosano C, Melchitzky DS, Sweeney JA, Lewis DA. Chemoarchitecture of the human precentral sulcus (PCS). Brain Research 2003;972(1-2):16-30.
43. Rosano C, Krisky CM, Thulborn KR, .Sweeney JA. Pursuit and saccade subregions of the frontal eye field in humans: a high-resolution functional MRI investigation. Cerebral Cortex 2002;12(2):107-115
44. Sweeney JA, Rosano C, Berman RA, Luna B. Decline in voluntary response inhibition but not spatial working memory in normal aging: evidence from oculomotor studies. Neurobiol Aging 2001;22(1):39-47.
45. Oudega M, Rosano C, .Sadi D, Wood PM, Schwab M, Hagg T. Neutralizing antibodies against Neurite Growth Inhibitor NI-35/250 do not promote regeneration on sensory axons in the adult rat spinal cord. Neuroscience 2000;100(4):873-83.
46. Rosano C, Cuervo EF, Wood PM. Regenerative potential of adult O1+ oligodendrocytes. Glia 1999;27(3):189-202.