Dr. Alberto Ascherio

Biography

Alberto Ascherio, MD, DrPH, is a Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He received his medical degree from the University of Milan and worked for several years in medicine and public health across Latin America and Africa. Ascherio obtained both a Master and Doctorate in Public Health from Harvard University. Over the past 25 years, he has focused on discovering the causes of neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and cognitive decline. His research includes longitudinal studies with diverse cohorts such as the Nurses' Health Studies and the U.S. Army. His work has identified numerous modifiable risk factors for these conditions, leading to significant insights into prevention and treatment. Ascherio's notable contributions include a groundbreaking discovery linking Epstein-Barr virus infection to MS. He has published over 400 original research papers and reviews and has received several accolades, including an honorary Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Southern Denmark.

Research Interests