University of Miami · NeuroscienceBesser Lab
Lilah Besser · Coral Gables, Florida
Research Focus
Dr. Lilah Besser's lab at the University of Miami focuses on understanding how urban environments, particularly heat exposure, affect cognitive health in older adults, especially those at risk for Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The research aims to uncover the links between urban heat islands—areas with significantly higher temperatures due to human activity—and changes in cognitive function, brain structure, and dementia risk. By investigating the role of greenspaces in mitigating these effects, the lab seeks to inform public health interventions that promote healthier living environments.
Alzheimer's diseaseurban heat islandscognitive functiongreenspacesdementiaenvironmental healthpublic healthepidemiologyaging
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the association between urban heat island exposure and cognitive function in older adults.
AIM 02Determine the link between cumulative heat exposure and structural MRI biomarkers of cognitive decline.
AIM 03Evaluate the impact of greenspaces on reducing urban heat exposure and improving dementia-related outcomes.
Skills the Lab Values
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)cognitive assessmentsMRI analysisepidemiological methodsstatistical softwaredata collectionfieldworksmartwatch data collectionliterature review
Output against the department
Publications144top 50% of dept.337th of 671
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations5.8kbottom 41% of dept.397th of 671
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.