Dr. Mariana Acquarone completed her training in Biomedical Sciences at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, where she developed a strong foundation in neurobiology and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. She later expanded her research focus to the intersection of metabolism, vascular biology, and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Dr. Acquarone is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology at Tulane University School of Medicine.
Her research investigates how dietary patterns, cardiometabolic dysfunction, sex differences, and microbiome alterations influence AD pathogenesis. She integrates transgenic mouse models, human induced pluripotent stem cell–derived systems, and multi-omics approaches to study early lipid and plasma membrane alterations, neurovascular dysfunction, and heart–brain interactions in AD.
Dr. Acquarone has led projects examining the impact of Mediterranean versus Western dietary patterns on amyloid pathology, cognitive decline, and gut–brain signaling. Her work also explores how AD-associated genetic variants such as TREM2 contribute to early membrane and lipid dysregulation.
She is actively engaged in translational and collaborative research initiatives across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, with a focus on expanding research capacity and fostering cross-regional scientific partnerships.
Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine