Elizabeth P. Helzner

Dr. Elizabeth P. Helzner is an Associate Professor and Interim Chair in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the School of Public Health, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. Her expertise lies in chronic disease epidemiology, with a focus on age-related conditions such as hearing loss and Alzheimer's disease.

Her academic background includes:

• PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Pittsburgh
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Aging Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh
• Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Neuroepidemiology at Columbia University’s Gertrude Sergievsky Center
• MS from Boston University
• Certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Dr. Helzner specializes in age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), investigating contributors such as diabetes, bone density, vascular health, and demographic, genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors. She also studies the impact of hearing loss on cognition, mortality, psychological health, and physical function.

Additionally, she has conducted epidemiologic studies on Alzheimer’s disease, including post-diagnosis survival and correlates of cognitive decline. Collaborative projects span stroke diagnosis, multiple myeloma, hearing loss and mental state in elders, and community-based programming for Parkinson’s Disease, with emerging work on plant-based nutrition for chronic disease prevention.

Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on aging, hearing loss, and neurodegenerative diseases from 2004-2009, with key themes in vascular contributions to cognitive decline, demographic disparities in hearing sensitivity, and sensory impairment interactions with physical health outcomes. Recent work expands into nutritional epidemiology.

Dr. Helzner teaches core epidemiology courses including Principles of Epidemiology and Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases. She maintains active collaborations with Neurology, Oncology, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Occupational Therapy departments on translational research projects addressing community health needs in aging populations.

Her research program emphasizes interdisciplinary team science across SUNY Downstate, with community-engaged projects focused on improving outcomes for elders through integrated approaches to sensory impairment, cognitive health, and chronic disease management.