Erin Sundermann, PhD

Graduate Institution

University of Illinois at Chicago

Research Description

I conduct dual research programs in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) and, ultimately, in the intersection of AD and HAND. My broad research scope is the investigation of risk and protective factors, particularly sex/gender-related and genetic factors, for cognitive impairment in HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected aging populations. My research program aims to inform the reason behind the higher rates of AD and HIV-associated cognitive impairment in women versus men even when accounting for women’s longer lifespan and to address gaps in our understanding of how risk factors, diagnostic accuracy, biomarkers and trajectory of cognitive impairment differ between men and women. I do so through a comprehensive research program involving neuropsychological, genetic, biomarker and neuroimaging data. My overarching goal is for the discovery of sex differences and sex-specific mechanisms and risk factors to inform the development of risk reduction and therapeutic intervention that are optimal for cognitive and mental health in both sexes.

Representative Publications

• Sundermann, E.E., Maki, P.M., Biegon A, Lipton, R., Mielke, M.M., Machulda, M., Bondi, M.W. (2019). Sex-specific norms for verbal memory tests may improve diagnostic accuracy of amnestic MCI. Neurology, 93(20), e1881-e1889.

• Sundermann, E.E., Bondi, M.W., Campbell, L.M., Gouaux, B., Moore, R.C., Soontornniyomkij, V., Moore, D.J. (2020). Distinguishing amnestic mild cognitive impairment from HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 224(3), 435-442

• Rubin, L.H., Neigh, G.N., Sundermann, E.E., Xu, Y., Scully, E.P., Maki, P.M. (2019). Sex differences in neurocognitive function in adults with HIV: Patterns, predictors, and mechanisms. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(10), 94.

Collaborators

Drs. Sarah Banks / Matt Panizzon / David Moore / Mark Bondi / Raeanne Moore