About
I am a Senior Research Associate at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) working in the Aging and Dementia Imaging Research (ADIR) Laboratory and supported by a research fellowship grant from Race Against Dementia.
My research focuses on studying the role of cerebrovascular dysfunction in dementia and cognitive impairment, with the help of multimodal neuroimaging techniques and clinical data in humans.
I am also interested in studying the early risk and resilience factors of dementia, and how neuroimaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease is involved in early dementia pathogenesis. In particular, I am interested in how cerebral small vessel disease relates to established dementia risk factors and molecular imaging markers of dementia (e.g., amyloid, tau, neuroinflammation), as a way to further our understanding of how various pathologies interact in their contribution to neurodegeneration and clinical outcomes.
On top of my academic work, I support younger researchers as the Early Career Investigator Representative of the International Society of Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders (VasCog).
Profiles
Research Interests
- Dementia
- Cerebral small vessel disease
- Inflammation
- Blood brain barrier
- Neuroimaging
- Cognition
Contact
Email: low.audrey@mayo.edu
Peer-reviewed Publications
Full list of articles on Google Scholar.
- Association between choroidal microvasculature in the eye and Alzheimer’s disease risk in cognitively healthy midlife adults.
Alzheimer’s Dement. 2025;17:e70075. [doi]
Burke J, Gibbon S, Low A, Hamid C, Reid-Schachter M, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie CW, Dhillon B, O’Brien JT, MacCormick IJC, MacGillivray TJ - Perivascular space dysfunction in cerebral small vessel disease is related to neuroinflammation.
Brain. 2025;148(5):1540-1550. [doi]
Hong H, Tozer D, Chen Y, Brown R, Low A, Markus H - Sex disparities in the impact of atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk burden on cognitive health.
J Am Heart Assoc. 2025.
Zuo L, Kua Z, Wang X, Low A, Cai X, Li S, Wang M, Wang Y, Dong Y, Pan Y - Machine learning applications in vascular neuroimaging for the diagnosis and prognosis of cognitive impairment and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Alz Res Therapy. 2025;17:183. [doi]
Lohner V, Badhwar A, Detcheverry FE, García CL, Gellersen HM, Khodakarami Z, Lattmann R, Li R, Low A, Mazo C, Metz A, Parent O, Phillips V, Saeed U, Tan SYW, Tamburin S, Llewellyn DJ, Rittman T, Waters S, Bernal J - Neuroimaging and Clinical Findings in Healthy Middle-Aged Adults With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the PREVENT Dementia Study.
JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Aug 1;7(8):e2426774. [doi] [Scientific American]
Low A, McKiernan E, Prats-Sedano MA, Carter SF, Stefaniak JD, Su L, Dounavi ME, Muniz-Terrera G, Jenkins N, Bridgeman K, Ritchie K, Lawlor B, Naci L, Malhotra P, Mackay C, Koychev I, Thayanandan T, Raymont V, Ritchie CW, Stewart W, O’Brien JT - Immune regulation and blood–brain barrier permeability in cerebral small vessel disease: study protocol of the INflammation and Small Vessel Disease (INSVD) study – a multicentre prospective cohort study.
BMJ Open. 2024; 0:e084303. [doi] (co-first authorship)
Low A, van Winden S, Cai L, Kessels RPC, Maas MC, Morris R, Nus M, Tozer DJ, Tuladhar AM, van der Kolk A, Wolters R, Mallat Z, Riksen NP, Markus HS, de Leeuw FE - Association of optic disc pallor and RNFL thickness with cerebral small vessel disease in the PREVENT-Dementia study.
Alzheimers Dement. 2024; 16(3):e12633. [doi]
Gibbon S, Low A, Hamid C, Reid-Schachter M, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie CW, Trucco E, Dhillon B, O’Brien JT, MacGillivray TJ - Apoe ε4 exacerbates age-dependent deficits in cortical microstructure in midlife adults.
Brain Comms. 2024;6(1):fcad351. [doi]
Mak E, Dounavi ME, Operto G, Ziukelis E, Jones PS, Low A, Swann P, Newton C, Terrera-Muniz G, Malhotra P, Koychev I, Falcon C, Mackay C, Lawlor B, Naci L, Wells K, Ritchie C, Ritchie K, Su L, Gispert JD, O’Brien JT - Comprehensive allostatic load risk index is associated with increased frontal and left parietal white matter hyperintensities in mid-life cognitively healthy adults.
Sci Rep. 2024; 14:573. [doi]
Buller-Peralta I, Gregory S, Low A, Dounavi ME, Wells K, Ntailianis G, Lawlor B, Naci L, Koychev I, Malhotra P, O’Brien JT, Ritchie CW, Muniz-Terrera G - The Mediterranean diet is not associated with neuroimaging or cognition in middle-aged adults: a cross-sectional analysis of the PREVENT Dementia Programme.
Eur J Neurol. 2024; 31:e16345. [doi]
Gregory S, Buller-Peralta I, De La Cruz Góngara V, Dounavi ME, Low A, Ntailianis G, Parra M, Ritchie CW, Ritchie K, Shannon OM, Stevenson EJ, Wells K, Muniz-Terrera G - The PREVENT Dementia programme: Baseline demographic, lifestyle, imaging and cognitive data from a midlife cohort study investigating risk factors for dementia.
Brain Commun. 2024; 6(3):fcae189. [doi]
Ritchie CW, Bridgeman K, Gregory S, O’Brien JT, Danso SO, Dounavi ME, Carriere I, Driscoll D, Hillary R, Koychev I, Lawlor B, Naci L, Su L, Low A, Mak E, Malhotra P, Manson J, Marioni R, Murphy L, Stewart W, Muniz-Terrera G, & Ritchie K - Differential association of cerebral blood flow and anisocytosis in APOE ε4 carriers at midlife.
J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2023; 43(10):1672-1684. [doi]
Dounavi ME, Mak E, Swann P, Low A, Muniz-Terrera G, McKeever A, Pope M, Williams G, Wells K, Lawlor B, Naci L, Malhotra P, MacKay C, Koychev I, Ritchie K, Su L, Ritchie C, O’Brien J - Artificial intelligence for diagnosis and prognosis in neuroimaging for dementia; a systematic review.
Alzheimer’s Dement. 2023; 1-20. [doi]
Borchet R, Azevedo T, Badhwar A, Bernal J, Betts M, Bruuffaerts R, Bukhart M, Dewachter L, Gellersen H, Low A, …, Newby D, Ranson J, Llewellyn D, Veldsman M, Rittman T - Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of dementia and midlife cerebral small vessel disease in cognitively healthy midlife adults: the PREVENT-Dementia study.
Alz Res Therapy. 2022; 14:154. [doi]
Low A, Prats-Sedano M, McKiernan E, Carter S, Stefaniak JD, Nannoni S, Su L, Dounavi ME, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie K, Lawlor B, Naci L, Malhotra P, MacKay C, Koychev I, Ritchie CW, Markus HS, O’Brien JT - CAIDE dementia risk score relates to severity and progression of cerebral small vessel disease in healthy midlife adults: the PREVENT-Dementia study.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2022; 93:481-490. [doi]
Low A, Prats-Sedano MA, Stefaniak JD, McKiernan EF, Carter SF, Dounavi ME, Mak E, Su L, Stupart O, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie K, Ritchie CW, Markus HS, O’Brien JT - Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery MRI textural features as sensitive markers of white matter damage in midlife adults.
Brain Commun. 2022; 4(3): fcac116. (co-first authorship) [doi]
Dounavi ME, Low A, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie K, Ritchie CW, Markus HS, O’Brien JT - Macrostructural brain alterations at midlife are connected to cardiovascular and not inherited risk of future dementia.
J Neurol. 2022; 269(8):4299-4309. [doi]
Dounavi ME, Newton C, Jenkins N, Mak E, Low A, Muniz-Terrera G, Williams GB, Lawlor B, Naci L, Malhotra P, Mackay C, Koychev I, Ritchie K, Ritchie CW, Su L, O’Brien JT - Inherited risk of dementia and the progression of cerebral small vessel disease and inflammatory markers in cognitively healthy midlife adults: the PREVENT-Dementia study.
Neurobiol Aging. 2021; 98:124-133. [doi]
Low A, Su L, Stefaniak JD, Mak E, Dounavi ME, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie K, Ritchie CW, Markus HS, O’Brien JT - Rate of, and risk factors for, white matter hyperintensity growth: a systematic review and meta-analysis with implications for clinical trial design.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021; 92(12):1271-1277. [doi]
Brown R, Low A, Markus HS - Evidence of cerebral hemodynamic dysregulation in middle-aged APOE ε4 carriers: the PREVENT-Dementia study.
J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2021; 41(11):2844-2855. [doi]
Dounavi ME, Low A, McKiernan E, Mak E, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie K, Ritchie CW, Su L, O’Brien JT - Proximity to dementia onset and multi-modal neuroimaging changes: The PREVENT-Dementia Study.
NeuroImage. 2021;229:117749. [doi]
Mak E, Dounavi M, Low A, Carter SF, McKiernan E, Williams GB, Jones PS, Carriere I, Muniz-Terrera G, Ritchie K, Ritchie C, Su L, O’Brien JT - In vivo coupling of dendritic complexity with presynaptic density in primary tauopathies.
Neurobiol Aging 2021; 101: 187–198. [doi]_
Mak E, Holland N, Jones PS, Savulich G, Low A, Malpetti M, Kaalund SS, Passamonti L, Rittman T, Romero-Garcia R, Manavaki R, Williams GB, Hong YT, Fryer TD, Aigbirhio FI, O’Brien JT, Rowe JB - Association between white matter hyperintensity load and grey matter atrophy in mild cognitive impairment is not unidirectional.
Aging (Albany NY) 2021;13(8): 10973–10988. [doi]_
Vipin A, Wong BYX, Kumar D, Low A, Ng KP, Kandiah N - In vivo neuroinflammation and cerebral small vessel disease in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020; 11; 92(1): 45-52. [doi]
Low A, Mak E, Malpetti M, Passamonti L, Nicastro N, Stefaniak JD, Savulich G, Chouliaras L, Su L, Rowe JB, Markus HS, O’Brien JT - Peak Width of Skeletonized Mean Diffusivity as a Marker of Diffuse Cerebrovascular Damage.
Front Neurosci. 2020; 14: 238. [doi]
Low A, Mak E, Stefaniak JD, Malpetti M, Nicastro N, Markus HS, Rowe JB, O’Brien JT - Cerebral Small Vessel Disease Influences Hippocampal Subfield Atrophy in Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Transl Stroke Res. 2020, 1-9. [doi]
Wong FCC, Yatawara C, Low A, Foo H, Wong BYX, Lim L, Wang B, Kumar D, Ng KP, Kandiah N - Development and validation of a brief visual based cognitive screening tool for dementia: the Visual Cognitive Assessment Test short-form (VCAT-S).
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2020; 91(10): 1122-1123. [doi]
Koh W, Lim L, Low A, Wong B, Lim L, Silva E, Ng KP, Kandiah N - Inflammation and cerebral small vessel disease: A systematic review.
Ageing Res Rev. 2019; 53:100916. [doi]_
Low A, Mak E, Rowe JB, Markus HS, O’Brien JT - Association of Asymmetrical Distribution of White Matter Hyperintensities and Apolipoprotein E4 on Cognitive Outcomes in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia.
J Alzheimers Dis. 2019; 70(3): 953-964. [doi]_
Low A, Ng KP, Chander RJ, Wong B, Kandiah N - Asymmetrical Atrophy of Thalamic Subnuclei in Alzheimer’s Disease and Amyloid-Positive Mild Cognitive Impairment is Associated with Key Clinical Features.
Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2019; 11: 690-699. [doi]_
Low A, Mak E, Malpetti M, Chouliaras L, Nicastro N, Su L, Holland N, Rittman T, Vázquez Rodríguez P, Passamonti L, Bevan-Jones WR, Jones PS, Rowe JB, O’Brien JT - Hippocampal Subfield Atrophy of CA1 and Subicular Structures Predict Progression to Dementia in Idiopathic Parkinson’s disease.
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2019; 90(6): 681-687. [doi]_
Low A, Foo H, Yong T, Tan LCS, Kandiah N - Predictors and Patterns of Cognitive Decline Differ between Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson’s disease (PD-MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD-MCI).
J Alzheimers Parkinsonism Dement. 2019; 3(1): 27.
Low A, Yong T, Chandler RJ, Ng KP, Kandiah N - Construct Validity of the Visual Cognitive Assessment Test (VCAT): A Cross-Cultural Language-Neutral Cognitive Screening Tool.
Int Psychogeriatr. 2019; 21:1-9. [doi]_
Low A, Lim L, Lim L, Wong B, Silva E, Ng KP, Kandiah N
Grants, Awards & Prizes
- Rising Star Award, WeAreTheCity, 2025—Recognised as one of the UK’s Top 5 female early career professionals in the Education & Academia sector.
- Race Against Dementia Mayo Clinic Fellowship, 2024–2029—Postdoctoral fellowship grant; USD $500,000 awarded to conduct dementia research at the Mayo Clinic for five years.
- National University of Singapore (NUS) Development Grant, 2024–2025—Awarded to individuals with outstanding academic and international track record in research.
- Rising Star Award, Alzheimer’s Society UK, 2023 July—As part of the Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Research Excellence and People Awards, the Rising Star Award recognises early career researchers (up to 3 years post-PhD) for remarkable success in their research career thus far. One exceptional researcher is selected across the UK each year.
- National University of Singapore (NUS) Development Grant, 2023–2024—Awarded to individuals with outstanding academic and international track record in research.
- Best Talk, Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) Translation 2023, 2023 March
- Alzheimer’s Research UK Travel Grant, 2023 Feb
- Brain Travel Award, Guarantors of Brain, 2022 Sep
- Fitzwilliam Society Trust Travel Grant, University of Cambridge, UK, 2022 Sep
- Alzheimer’s Research UK Travel Grant, 2022 May
- Fitzwilliam College Senior Scholarship Award, University of Cambridge, UK, 2022 March—Awarded to the college’s highest performing PhD students in recognition of excellent intellectual achievements.
- Alzheimer’s Research UK Travel Grant, 2021 Nov
- Fitzwilliam Society Trust Travel Grant, University of Cambridge, UK, 2021 Oct
- Fitzwilliam College Senior Scholarship Award, University of Cambridge, UK, 2020 Dec—Awarded to the college’s highest performing PhD students in recognition of excellent intellectual achievements.
- Alzheimer’s Research UK Travel Grant, 2020 Nov
- Alzheimer’s Research UK Travel Grant (Note: Awarded but returned due to travel restrictions during COVID lockdown), 2019 Dec
- Stachulski Dudding Travel Grant, University of Cambridge, UK, 2019 Nov
- Lee Kuan Yew Fitzwilliam PhD Scholarship, University of Cambridge, 2019–2022—Fully funded PhD studentship paying tuition fees and maintenance for the full duration of PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, bond-free.
- Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship, Singapore, 2019—Scholarship awarded by the Tan Kah Kee Foundation, in recognition of academic achievements and contribution in community and social services.
- Best Junior Researcher Award, National Neuroscience Research Institute Singapore Research Day, 2018
- i-Project Award, 2014–2017—Awarded four years in a row for contributions toward driving innovation in the research capabilities of the Singapore Government.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
- PhD in Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, 2019–2022
- Bachelor (Hons.) in Psychology, National University of Singapore, 2013
Professional Experience
- Mar 2025–Present: Race Against Dementia Fellow @ Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, USA
- Aug 2022–Mar 2024: Research Associate @ University of Cambridge, UK
- Oct 2019–Jul 2022: PhD Candidate @ University of Cambridge, UK
- Oct 2018–Aug 2019: Visiting Researcher @ University of Cambridge, UK
- Oct 2017–Sep 2018: Clinical Research Coordinator @ National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore
- Jun 2013–Sep 2017: Senior Manager, Behavioural Insights @ Ministry of Communication and Information, Singapore
Invited Talks
- Traumatic brain injury in a community-based cohort: Neuroimaging & clinical features. Invited speaker for Karolinksa Instuitutet Virtual Morning Coffee Meeting, with the Center for Alzheimer Research. 19th Mar 2025.
- Managing feedback from peer review. Invited speaker for career development series on the Dementia Researcher Communities platform (Dementia Researcher Salon Series). 10th Jul 2024.
- Shaping Our Future. Invited speaker at the The Masters Singapore Alumni Reception Celebrating Lee Kuan Yew 2024, attended by Cambridge alumni and the Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Lee Hsien Loong. Old Parliament House, Singapore. 8th Jan 2024.
- Inflammation and cerebral small vessel disease in Alzheimer’s disease. UK Dementia Research Institute Seminar Series on the Neuro-Glia-Vascular Unit. 14th Jun 2022.
- Small vessel disease and its progression. Invited panellist at the Brain Health Symposium, Brain & Brain PET Conference. Glasgow, UK. 1st Jun 2022.
- Cerebral small vessel disease and dementia: Insights from neuroimaging and preclinical changes. J. Philip Kistler Stroke Research Meeting, Massachusetts General Hospital. Invited seminar speaker. 5th Oct 2021.
- Deconstructing dementia: What’s vessels got to do with it?. Fitzwilliam College Postgraduate Talks, University of Cambridge. 12th Jun 2021.
- A glimpse into research as a career. Fireside Chats with Industry Professionals, Catholic Junior College, Singapore. Invited panellist for career event for high school students. 24th Nov 2020.
Conference Presentations
- 2025: Oral presentation—Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC)
- 2024: Oral presentation—PREVENT General Assembly 2024 (SVD & neighbourhood deprivation)
- 2024: Oral presentation—PREVENT General Assembly 2024 (SVD & traumatic brain injury)
- 2023: Oral presentation—Dementias Platform UK (DPUK) Translation 2023 (Awarded best talk)
- 2023: Oral presentation—UK Dementia Research Institute Vascular ECR Workshop
- 2023: Oral presentation—Cambridge Imaging Festival
- 2022: Oral presentation—Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference 2022
- 2022: Oral presentation—World Stroke Congress (WSC 2022), Short Communications
- 2022: Oral presentation—PREVENT General Assembly 2022
- 2021: Oral presentation—Vas-Cog Conference 2021
- 2021: Oral presentation—Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference (ARUK 2021)
- 2021: Data blitz—5th Preclinical Stroke Symposium 2021
- 2021: Data blitz—Cambridge Imaging Festival 2021
- 2021: Data blitz—UK-DRI Vascular Theme Early Career Researcher Meeting 2021
- 2020: Oral presentation—Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC 2020)
- 2020: Oral presentation—PREVENT General Assembly 2020
- 2020: Oral presentation—Alzheimer’s Research UK Conference (ARUK 2020)
- 2018: Oral presentation—National Neuroscience Research Institute Singapore (NNRIS) Research Day 2018 (Best Junior Researcher Award)
Leadership and Volunteer Activities
- VasCog Society ECI representative: Elected to the executive committee to elevate early-stage researchers in the field of vascular cognitive impairment
- Cambridge Access to Mental health and Psychology (Summer CAMP): Mentoring under-represented students to improve diversity & access to academia as part of the Cambridge Access to Mental health and Psychology program (Summer CAMP)
- Trinity College Pdoc/PhD mentoring scheme: Mentor to neuroscience PhD student as part of the college mentorship programme
- Fitzwilliam College Welcome Week Committee (University of Cambridge) (Organizer): Spearhead and coordinate activities planned for incoming postgraduate students
- Diamonds & the Ruff (Volunteer): Engaged children with cancer with pet therapy, befriending, facilitated activities
- NNI Dementia Support Group (CARe Programme) (Volunteer): Assisted clinicians in conducting support group sessions, monitored safety, facilitated activities
- iRemember (Volunteer): Conducted free dementia screening within the local community
Public Engagement
- Cambridge Festival (Volunteer, 2023): Hosted hands-on interactive exhibit with CamBRAIN to promote brain awareness amongst children and young adults
- Pint of Science Festival (Organizer, 2022): Planned and coordinated a 3-day public engagement event for researchers to share their work with the public
- Big Biology Day (Volunteer, 2022): Engaged with children and families to educate them about dementia with activities and models
- Studio Lilliput (Founder): Personal online pottery shop raising funds for dementia research charities
Professional Memberships
- ISTAART: Alzheimer’s Association International Society to Advance Alzheimers Research & Treatment
- VasCog: The International Society of Vascular Behavioural and Cognitive Disorders
- DEMON Network: ARUK Deep Dementia Phenotyping (DEMON) Network
Skills & Expertise
- Analysis: Proficient in R, Markdown, SPSS, AMOS, FreeSurfer, MATLAB, SPM, FSL, PALM
- Languages: English (native speaker), Mandarin (second language)