Mariagnese Barbera

Mariagnese Barbera is a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland (UEF). She has a strong research profile in dementia epidemiology and prevention, with a focus on cardiovascular risk factors, subjective cognitive decline, multimodal interventions, and qualitative studies in aging populations.

Her research interests span dementia prevention, precision medicine, adherence in lifestyle interventions, and public health implementation. She investigates how cardiovascular health intersects with cognitive aging and how structured interventions can reduce dementia risk. Her work emphasizes real-world applicability, especially through digital platforms and international collaboration.

Her recent publications highlight trends in multimodal precision prevention, the role of risk scores (e.g., ANU-ADRI, LIBRA), mechanisms of lifestyle interventions, and the development of combination therapies like MET-FINGER. These studies reflect a shift toward personalized, evidence-based strategies for cognitive health, supported by large-scale trials and WHO guideline development.

• Member, WHO Guidelines for Dementia Risk Reduction (Evidence Review Team)
• Coordinator, Finnish Study in HATICE
• Coordinator, CAIDE 85+ Study
• Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Cambridge (2007–2013)
• PhD, Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Padova, Italy (2007)

Dr. Barbera has contributed to major scientific efforts in dementia prevention, including the FINGER trial, MET-FINGER protocol, and World-Wide FINGERS network. She collaborates with leading institutions across Europe and has secured funding from international bodies such as the European Research Council and EU Joint Programme—Neurodegenerative Disease Research. Her work bridges clinical research, public health policy, and patient-centered intervention design.

She is part of the Clinical Alzheimer Research group and the UEF - Nordic-UK Brain Network, contributing to both national and global dementia prevention initiatives. Her research integrates quantitative and qualitative methods to understand intervention adherence, participant experiences, and long-term cognitive outcomes.