Building REGARDS: The Study That Changed How We Understand Stroke Disparities

Designing Dementia Prevention for a Diverse World

In this episode of No Brain Behind, we discuss how dementia prevention must be designed for diverse populations across the globe. This conversation explores how biological, psychosocial, and economic factors intersect to shape brain and cognitive aging across the life course, and why prevention strategies developed in one setting may not translate to another. We highlight the multinational AFRICA-FINGERS initiative, which is adapting evidence-based dementia prevention approaches through culturally appropriate, sustainable, and multimodal interventions. The episode also examines global efforts to expand equitable access to biomarker research through the World-Wide FINGERS Biomarker Consortium and the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative (DAC). Our guest, Dr. Chi Udeh-Momoh (Wake Forest University School of Medicine), is a translational neuroscientist whose work spans molecular neuroscience, epidemiology, and public health. Her research focuses on early detection, prevention, and reducing disparities in Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular emphasis on underrepresented populations worldwide. Further reading: • Computational whole-body-exposome models for global precision brain health https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67448-3 [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67448-3] • Resilience and brain health in global populations https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03846-w [https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-03846-w]

Scaling Stroke Equity: Global Innovations in Thrombectomy Access

In this episode of No Brain Behind, guest host Dr. Neeharika Krothapalli is joined by Dr. Dileep Yavagal, interventional neurologist, Director of Interventional Neurology at the University of Miami, and founder of Mission Thrombectomy. He shares his journey in advancing global access to stroke care and discusses how collaboration, advocacy, and innovation, from policy efforts to emerging technologies, are helping expand access to life-saving treatments worldwide. This conversation highlights the critical role of implementation and systems-level thinking in advancing equity in brain health.

Building REGARDS: The Study That Changed How We Understand Stroke Disparities

In this episode of No Brain Behind, Dr. George Howard and Dr. Suzanne Judd discuss their leadership of the REGARDS (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) study, one of the largest longitudinal investigations of stroke disparities in the United States. They share how the study was designed to examine persistent racial and geographic disparities in stroke, including the elevated burden in the southeastern “Stroke Belt” and among African Americans, and reflect on the challenges of building and sustaining a national cohort over two decades. The conversation also highlights how REGARDS has evolved into a major scientific resource supporting research on stroke risk, social determinants of health, and disparities in brain and cardiovascular health.

Aerobic Fitness, Neurocognition, and Public Health Translation

In this episode of No Brain Behind, Dr. Charles “Chuck” Hillman, director of the Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University, discusses his research on how physical activity shapes brain health across the lifespan. He outlines a multidisciplinary program integrating randomized interventions, neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and behavioral methods to examine the effects of aerobic fitness and adiposity on brain structure and cognitive function. The conversation highlights findings from studies in children and older adults and explores how this work can inform public health guidelines, educational practice, and equitable access to brain-healthy lifestyles.

Neurology at a Distance: Telestroke and Rural Care

In this episode of No Brain Behind, Dr. Stephanie Lyden and Dr. Lee Chung, neurologists at the University of Utah, discuss the challenges and innovations shaping rural neurologic care. They explore how geographic distance, limited infrastructure, and fragmented health systems impact access to time-sensitive stroke care in rural and Indigenous communities, and how tele-stroke and tele-neurology are helping bridge these gaps. The conversation highlights innovative care models, medical education pathways, and the importance of collaboration, cultural humility, and reimagining underserved neurology as a distinct and valued area of practice.