Lisa Mosconi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lisa Mosconi
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Mosconi presenting at the inaugural Presidential Women’s Health Research Conference at the White House
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| Education | PhD |
| Alma mater | University of Florence, New York University School of Medicine |
| Spouse(s) | Kevin Slavin |
| Children | 1 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Clinical neuroscience |
| Institutions | Weill Cornell Medical College |
Lisa Mosconi is a scientist, teacher, and author from Italy and America. She is famous for her books like The Menopause Brain and Brain Food. Dr. Mosconi leads two important programs at Weill Cornell Medicine: the Alzheimer's Prevention Program and the Women's Brain Initiative. She is also a professor there, teaching about the brain. Since 2024, she has been a Program Director at Wellcome Leap, which is a group that supports health research around the world.
Early Life and Education
Lisa Mosconi was born in Florence, Italy. Both of her parents are nuclear physicists, which means they study the tiny parts of atoms. Her family has a history of Alzheimer's disease, a condition that affected her grandmother and her grandmother's two sisters.
Dr. Mosconi studied Experimental Psychology for five years at the University of Florence. She also earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience and Nuclear Medicine from the same university. She worked with New York University School of Medicine during her studies. She moved to the United States when she was 24 years old.
Brain Research
Dr. Mosconi's research looks for early signs of Alzheimer's disease. She especially focuses on women who might be at risk. Her book The Menopause Brain explains that menopause is not just about hormones. It also affects the brain. She believes that keeping the brain healthy is a very important part of women’s health.
Her studies have shown something important. Women who are at risk for Alzheimer's can develop certain brain changes, called amyloid plaques, during perimenopause. This is a time before menopause fully begins. This discovery means that doctors might be able to help prevent Alzheimer's and other diseases earlier than they thought.
Dr. Mosconi's work is supported by grants from the NIH. She also gets money from private groups and donations. She is a member of the AARP brain health council. She also serves on the Aspen Brain Institute Scientific Advisory Council.
Media and Books
Dr. Mosconi gave a TED Talk about how menopause affects the brain. More than four million people have watched it. In 2024, she spoke at the first Presidential Women’s Health Research Conference at the White House. This event highlighted how much more funding and research are needed for women's health.
Her books The Menopause Brain and The XX Brain have been on The New York Times bestsellers list. Her book Brain Food talks about which foods are best for brain health. It also shares research showing that eating poorly and not drinking enough water can harm the brain, especially as people get older.
