Dr. Kristine Yaffe is a preeminent leader in the field of cognitive aging and dementia research with a distinctive interdisciplinary foundation spanning neurology, psychiatry, and epidemiology. She currently serves as the Scola Endowed Chair and Vice Chair, Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Epidemiology, and Director of the Center for Population Brain Health at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Yaffe additionally holds the position of Chief of NeuroPsychiatry and Director of the Memory Evaluation Clinic at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, where she provides specialized clinical care for patients with cognitive disorders. Her academic journey began with a double major in biology and psychology at Yale University, followed by medical training at the University of Pennsylvania, and comprehensive postgraduate training in neurology, psychiatry, and epidemiology at UCSF.
Dr. Yaffe is internationally recognized as the foremost authority in identifying modifiable risk factors for dementia, pioneering groundbreaking research that established potentially 30% of dementia risk may be preventable through targeted interventions. Her seminal investigations revealed critical connections between cognitive aging and diverse factors including cardiovascular health, physical activity, sleep disorders, and traumatic brain injury, fundamentally reshaping scientific understanding of dementia prevention. With an impressive publication record exceeding 600 peer-reviewed articles and an H-index of 152, her work has earned recognition from Clarivate Analytics as among the most highly cited research in her field globally. Dr. Yaffe's epidemiological frameworks have directly informed the design of dementia prevention trials worldwide, providing the scientific foundation for public health initiatives aimed at preserving cognitive function across the lifespan.
As a thought leader in her field, Dr. Yaffe was honored with the prestigious Potamkin Prize for Alzheimer's Research in 2017, an award often regarded as the Nobel Prize of Alzheimer's research, and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2019 in recognition of her transformative contributions. She has provided expert testimony to the United States Senate's Special Committee on Aging, influencing national policy discussions on cognitive health and dementia prevention strategies. Currently supported by more than a dozen grants from NIH, Department of Defense, VA, and foundation sources, her research continues to expand our understanding of how social determinants of health intersect with modifiable risk factors to impact brain health outcomes. Dr. Yaffe remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of researchers through robust interdisciplinary training programs, ensuring the continued advancement of innovative approaches to preserving cognitive function in aging populations worldwide.
