Natalia Palacios

Natalia Palacios is Assistant Professor at the University of Massachusetts and Lowell and Visiting Scientist at Harvard University.The focus of our research group is to study, understand and discover risk factors for neurological disease, particularly in underserved populations.  We currently focus on Parkinson’s Disease, Cognitive Decline/Alzheimer’s disease and Depression and are particularly interested in the role of gut-brain axis in health and disease.  Our passion  is to understand how these relationships differ in underserved populations, with a strong focus on Latino health.  We are  currently pursuing several lines of research:

1. The microbiome and brain health:  we are conducting an NIH/NINDS (R01NS097723; PI Palacios) funded study of the role of the gut microbiome in PD within the Nurses Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (Harvard University).  Dr Palacios is also leading the creation of the the UMass Parkinson’s Microbiome Biorepository at the Mass Memorial Medical Center.  We,  passionate about underserved populations, and are conducting studies of the gut microbiome in relation to cognitive decline in several Latino cohorts.  We also have ongoing studies focused on oral and nasal microbiome in Parkinson’s disease.
2. Metabolomics and brain health:  We are conducting studies of untargeted metabolomics in relation to cognitive decline, MRI markers and depression in Latinos.   Lillian Kuehl is a master’s student who is leading this work.
3. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease in US Veterans:    We are working with colleagues at the US Department of Veterans Affairs to understand the epidemiology and risk factors for neurodegenerative disease in veterans.  Ongoing studies include modelling the trends in AD prevalence and incidence in Veterans and undertanding the relationship between oral health and AD.
4. Nutritional risk factors for cognitive decline and depression in Latinos:  We are working with Dr. Katherine Tucker (UML) and the Puerto Rican Health Study, to examine risk factors for cognitive decline and depression in Latinos.  Ongoing projects include studies of dietary, environmental, stress, and occupational risk factors.
5. Want to get involved?  We are looking for talented masters or doctoral students and post-doctoral associates.  Students with a strong background in data analytics (biostatistics, mathematics, computer science, bioinformatics), who are comfortable coding in R and/or SAS, are driven and independent learners and eager to master new tools and techniques are particularly encouraged to apply.  Please email natalia_palacios@uml.edu with your CV and cover letter.

Please click on the links on top of this page to learn more about our research.