Daniel Nation

Professor Daniel Nation holds the Merle H. Bensinger Professorship in Gerontology at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on vascular contributions to Alzheimer’s disease and aging, including blood pressure variability, cerebrovascular reactivity, and biomarker analysis. He is a leading expert in neuroimaging techniques and their application to understanding neurodegeneration.

• Endowed Chair: Merle H. Bensinger Professorship in Gerontology
• Primary Affiliation: Department of Gerontology
• Key Collaborations: Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, SPRINT Trial Analysis

Research Interests: Alzheimer’s Disease (pathogenesis, biomarkers), Vascular-Cognitive Interactions (blood pressure variability, cerebrovascular health), Neuroimaging (MRI-based perfusion, connectivity). Recent work emphasizes early detection of dementia through longitudinal studies of cardiovascular parameters and brain health. His team investigates how vascular risk factors like hypertension interact with genetic predisposition (APOE4) to accelerate cognitive decline.

Publications highlight methodological innovations (e.g., multiplex biomarker assays) and translational insights linking blood-brain barrier dysfunction to clinical outcomes. Ongoing projects explore interventions targeting autonomic nervous system dysfunction to mitigate neurodegeneration.

• Awards: Merle H. Bensinger Chair (USC)
• Key Themes: Cerebrovascular reactivity deficits in APOE4 carriers, plasma biomarker validation