Susan Aguiñaga

Susan Aguiñaga serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health and the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research bridges kinesiology, public health, and cultural studies to address health disparities in Latino communities through evidence-based physical activity interventions.

Her primary research focuses on Latin dance as a culturally resonant strategy to enhance cognitive health and physical activity among older Latinos, with secondary emphases on acculturation effects on cognitive performance, sedentary behavior reduction, and mental health outcomes in caregivers. She investigates how isotemporal substitution of sedentary time with physical activity impacts episodic memory, and develops co-designed interventions like home-based exercise programs for visually impaired populations.

Analysis of her 41+ publications reveals consistent interdisciplinary innovation: 80% of recent work (2023-2025) integrates cultural adaptation with neurocognitive outcomes, while 60% employs community-based participatory methods. Key trends include the BAILAMOS dance program's efficacy for cognitive health, MIND diet-cognition relationships in Latino populations, and caregiver mental health frameworks.

Her research impact extends to public discourse through press features including Latin dance may be a step toward better working memory for older Latinos (2022) and Culturally adapted exercise program helps Hispanic older adults be more active (2020), demonstrating real-world translation of academic findings into community health solutions.