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Helena Blumen

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Associate Professor of Medicine and Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

I’m a cognitive scientist with expertise and training in cognitive and motor aging, magnetic resonance imaging and clinical research methods. I completed my Ph.D in Cognitive Psychology at Stony Brook University in 2008 and an MS in Clinical Research Methods at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2018. I also completed a T32 NIH/NIA postdoctoral fellowship in the Neuropsychology of Cognition in Aging Training Program at Columbia University Medical Center in 2011, and a neuroimaging fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2013. I’m currently an associate professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) and Neurology (Division of Cognitive and Motor Aging) at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

The overall theme of my research is to optimize physical and cognitive functions in aging. I examine the potential for using collaboration, computer-based actions games, motor imagery and social dancing as a tool to improve cognition and mobility in aging and pre-dementia. The ultimate goal of my laboratory-based studies is to develop and test interventions that can be used to optimize cognition in community-dwelling older adults, and older adults that reside in nursing homes or naturally-occurring retirement communities.

I coordinate the processing and analysis of neuroimaging data from a number ongoing NIH/NIA funded studies in our division.

I was the recipient of a career development award from the National Institute on Aging (1K01AG049829-01A1). I was also awarded the 2015 Outstanding Junior Research Manuscript Award from the American Geriatrics Society for the paper:

Blumen, H.M. Holtzer, R., Brown, L.L, Gazes, Y & Verghese, J. (2014). Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Imagined Walking and Walking-While-Talking in the Elderly. Human Brain Mapping, 35(8), 4090-104. doi: 10.1002/hbm.22461. PubMed PMID: 24522972; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4106989.

I'm currently the principal investigator of a study that examines trajectories and modifiable risk factors of brain, gait and cognitive decline in aging and pre-dementia (1R01AG062659-01A1).

Experience

  • 2021–present
    Associate Professor, Department of Medicine (Division of Geriatrics), Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • 2021–present
    Associate Professor, Department of Neurology (Division of Cognitive and Motor Aging) , Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • 2022–present
    Associate Director, Resnick Gerontology Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • 2013–2021
    Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine (Division of Geriatrics), Albert Einstein College of Medicine
  • 2014–2021
    Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology (Division of Cognitive and Motor Aging), Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Education

  • 2018 
    Albert Einstein College of Medicine, MS with Distinction/Clinical Research Methods
  • 2008 
    Stony Brook University, Ph.D./Cognitive Psychology

Publications

  • 2022
    For complete list of published work see, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/helena.blumen.1/bibliography/48042443/public/?sort=date&direction=ascending

Grants and Contracts

  • 2020
    Trajectories and Modifiable Risk factors of Brain, Gait and Cognitive decline in Aging and Pre-dementia
    Role:
    Principal Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Institute on Aging
  • 2020
    Non-Invasive Home Neurostimulation for Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: Double-Blind, Sham Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Institute on Aging
  • 2020
    The biological underpinnings of Motoric Cognitive Risk syndrome: a multi-center study
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Institute on Aging
  • 2019
    Kerala-Einstein Aging Study.
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Institute on Aging
  • 2019
    Somatotropic Signaling and Resilience to Aging and Alzheimer's Disease
    Role:
    Co-Investigator
    Funding Source:
    National Institute on Aging
  • 2018
    Social Dancing Intervention for Older Adults at High Risk of Alzheimer's disease and other Dementias: A Pilot Study
    Role:
    Principal Investigator/Co-PI
    Funding Source:
    National Institute on Aging