Sarah McEwen, Ph.D.

JAD profile

Affiliation(s): 

University of California at San Diego

Areas of Interest: 

Aging and Cognition; Alzheimer's; Exercise; Randomized Controlled Trials

Biography & Research: 

Dr. Sarah McEwen, is an Assistant Research Scientist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. McEwen is the Director of the UCSD Exercise and Cognition Neuroimaging Lab, which conducts interdisciplinary research that draws on the fields of psychology, neuroscience, exercise physiology, engineering and psychiatry. Her expertise lies in human neuroimaging and cognitive psychology to utilize neuroimaging tools to uncover the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to the risk, development and treatment of serious mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer's and schizophrenia. Although a young investigator Dr. McEwen has been a PI or co-investigator on multiple research grants from the NIMH, NARSAD, and National Parkinson Foundation and has 35 peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. McEwen also serves as a Section Editor for NeuroReport. Currently, Dr. McEwen's translational research projects all have the common goal of understanding how novel physical activity lifestyle interventions can be easily implemented and promote brain plasticity to improve the lives of those living with severe mental illnesses. Dr. McEwen's evidence-based lifestyle interventions also leverage emerging mobile technologies to assist in the dissemination of her treatment programs outside of the research clinic.